Shloka 8
प्रलय-प्रक्रिया (Pralaya Process) — Guṇa-Withdrawal and Pratisaṃcara
लक्ष्मी बोली--मुझे न तो विरोचन जानता है और न उसका पुत्र यह बलि। लोग मुझे दुःसहा कहते हैं और कुछ लोग मुझे विधित्साके नामसे भी जानते हैं ।।
lakṣmī uvāca—māṃ na virocanas jānāti na ca tasya putro baliḥ | lokā māṃ duḥsahāṃ vadanti kecid vidhi-tsekā iti nāmnāpi jānanti || bhūtir lakṣmīti mām āhuḥ śrīr ity eva ca vāsava | tvaṃ māṃ śakra na jānīṣe sarve devā na māṃ viduḥ ||
Lakṣmī dit : « Ni Virocana ne me connaît, ni son fils Bali. On m’appelle “Duṣsahā” (la Difficile à supporter), et certains me connaissent aussi sous le nom de “Vidhitsakā”. Ceux qui comprennent vraiment me nomment Bhūti (prospérité), Lakṣmī (bonne fortune) et Śrī (splendeur), ô Vāsava. Pourtant toi, ô Śakra, tu ne me connais pas — et, en vérité, tous les dieux eux-mêmes ne me comprennent pas. »
शक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Prosperity (Lakṣmī/Śrī) is subtle and not fully grasped even by powerful beings; it is difficult to ‘endure’ because it can intoxicate, destabilize, and shift. Ethical maturity requires humility and discernment in relation to wealth, status, and success.
Lakṣmī addresses Indra (Śakra/Vāsava) and declares that neither Asura figures like Virocana and Bali nor even the gods truly understand her nature. She lists her names—Bhūti, Lakṣmī, Śrī—and emphasizes her elusive, overpowering character.