Shloka 236
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
स हि रूपाणि कुरुते विविधानि भृगूत्तम । भुगुश्रेष्ठ! तुम्हें इन्द्रकी ओरसे सदा सावधान रहना चाहिये; क्योंकि वह अनेक प्रकारके रूप धारण करता है
sa hi rūpāṇi kurute vividhāni bhṛgūttama |
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô le meilleur des Bhṛgu, il prend en vérité des formes nombreuses et diverses. C’est pourquoi tu dois demeurer sans cesse sur tes gardes envers Indra, car il excelle à revêtir des déguisements variés.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches sustained vigilance and discernment: powerful agents like Indra may employ disguise and stratagem, so one should not be careless or credulous but remain alert to shifting appearances.
Bhīṣma is instructing a Bhṛgu-descendant sage (addressed as Bhṛgūttama), warning him specifically about Indra’s capacity to assume many forms, implying that Indra may approach indirectly or deceptively.