Shloka 9
धनंजयस्य आश्वासनम्
Dhanaṃjaya’s Reassurance and the Opening Engagement
तथा राजा वसुमना बलाक्ष: सुप्रतर्दन: । अष्टकश्न शिबिश्वैव ययातिर्नहुषो गयः,उस विमानमें इन्द्रसहित तैंतीस देवता विराजमान थे। इनके सिवा गन्धर्व, राक्षस, सर्प, पितर, महर्षिगण, राजा वसुमना, बलाक्ष, सुप्रतर्दन, अष्टक, शिबि, ययाति, नहुष, गय, मनु, पूरु, रघु, भानु, कृशाश्व, सगर तथा नल--ये सब तेजस्वी रूप धारण करके देवराजके विमानमें दृष्टिगोचर हो रहे थे
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tathā rājā vasumanā balākṣaḥ supratardanaḥ | aṣṭakaś ca śibiś caiva yayātir nahuṣo gayaḥ |
Vaiśampāyana said: “There too were seen King Vasumanā, Balākṣa, Supratardana, and also Aṣṭaka and Śibi, along with Yayāti, Nahuṣa, and Gaya.” In Indra’s celestial chariot (vimāna) the Thirty-three gods shone with Indra at their head; besides them, Gandharvas, Rākṣasas, serpents (Nāgas), the Pitṛs, and great seers were visible. The passage underscores a moral vision of heaven: those renowned for righteousness, generosity, and kingly virtue are portrayed as sharing the divine presence, suggesting that ethical excellence and dharma-oriented rule lead to exalted states.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse participates in a broader ethical tableau: heaven is depicted as the gathering place of those distinguished by dharma—especially righteous kings and venerable beings—implying that moral governance, generosity, and adherence to duty culminate in exalted recognition.
Vaiśampāyana lists illustrious figures seen in Indra’s celestial vimāna: alongside Indra and the Thirty-three gods appear various classes of beings (Gandharvas, Pitṛs, great seers, etc.) and renowned kings such as Vasumanā, Śibi, Yayāti, Nahuṣa, and Gaya, all visible in radiant forms.