Shloka 16
Adhyāya 223: Nāradasya Guṇa-kathana
Catalogue of Nārada’s Virtues
यत् तद् यानसहसैस्त्वं ज्ञातिभि: परिवारित: । लोकान् प्रतापयन् सर्वान् यास्यस्मानवितर्कयन्
yat tad yāna-sahasrais tvaṁ jñātibhiḥ parivāritaḥ | lokān pratāpayan sarvān yāsy asmān avitarkayan ||
Śakra dit : «Autrefois, entouré de milliers d’attelages et de tes proches, tu allais çà et là, brûlant tous les êtres par ta puissance—partant comme si les dieux, nous-mêmes compris, ne valions pas même une pensée.»
शक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked power and pride lead to disregard for moral limits and even contempt for higher authority; the verse functions as a rebuke, urging humility and responsible conduct rather than oppressive display of might.
Śakra (Indra) addresses someone who once traveled in great pomp—surrounded by many vehicles and relatives—oppressing people and acting as if the gods were insignificant, highlighting the person’s former arrogance as a point of admonition.