Shloka 25
इन्द्रस्य दुःखप्राप्तिः—त्रिशिरोवधः, वृत्रोत्पत्तिः, जृम्भिकाजननम्
Indra’s Distress: Slaying of Triśiras, Birth of Vṛtra, and the Origin of Yawning
त॑ तु वजहतं दृष्टया शयानमचलोपमम् । न शर्म लेभे देवेन्द्रो दीपितस्तस्य तेजसा
taṁ tu vajahataṁ dṛṣṭvā śayānam acalopamam | na śarma lebhe devendro dīpitas tasya tejasā ||
Pero cuando Devendra (Indra) lo vio allí tendido—abatido por el rayo e inmóvil como una montaña—no halló paz. Indra siguió inquieto por dentro, como si lo abrasara el tejas fulgurante del caído; así se muestra que la victoria en combate no concede por sí sola serenidad cuando uno encara el residuo del miedo, la culpa o el sobrecogimiento ante el tapas y el tejas de otro.
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that external triumph does not guarantee inner tranquility: even a victor may feel disturbed when confronted with the formidable tejas (spiritual radiance) of the one he has slain, implying ethical and psychological consequences of violence and the awe commanded by tapas.
Śalya describes Indra seeing the thunderbolt-struck figure lying motionless like a mountain; despite the opponent being down, Indra cannot attain peace and feels as though burned or inflamed by that being’s lingering radiance and power.