Shloka 19
इन्द्रस्य दुःखप्राप्तिः—त्रिशिरोवधः, वृत्रोत्पत्तिः, जृम्भिकाजननम्
Indra’s Distress: Slaying of Triśiras, Birth of Vṛtra, and the Origin of Yawning
यत् ते कार्य महाभाग क्रियतां तदनन्तरम् । वे सब अप्सराएँ (त्रेशिराको विचलित करनेका) पूरा प्रयत्न करके पुनः देवराज इन्द्रकी सेवामें उपस्थित हुईं और हाथ जोड़कर बोलीं--'प्रभो! वे त्रिशिरा बड़े दुर्धर्ष तपस्वी हैं
yat te kāryaṃ mahābhāga kriyatāṃ tadanantaram | sampūjyāpsarasaḥ śakro visṛjya ca mahāmatiḥ ||
«Oh afortunado en extremo, cualquier tarea que tengas en mente—que se haga de inmediato después.» Habiendo honrado debidamente a las Apsaras y luego despidiéndolas, Śakra (Indra), el magnánimo, se dispuso a obrar. (Las Apsaras, tras esforzarse por completo en perturbar la firmeza ascética de Triśiras, regresaron al servicio del rey de los dioses y, con las manos juntas, dijeron: «Señor: Triśiras es un asceta difícil de doblegar; no puede ser desviado por la tentación. Oh noble, haz ahora lo que debas hacer».)
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that true discipline and inner steadiness are not easily overturned by external allure; it also implicitly critiques how authority may seek alternative strategies when moral persuasion fails, inviting reflection on ethical means versus desired ends.
After the Apsarases have been honored and dismissed, the speaker urges that whatever Indra intends to do next should be carried out; it functions as a transition from an attempted seduction/temptation episode to Indra’s subsequent course of action.