Shloka 39
Adhyāya 33 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Post-Conflict Remorse and Inquiry on Āśrama Discipline (शोक-विमर्शः, आश्रम-जिज्ञासा)
मरुद्धि: सह जित्वारीन् भगवान् पाकशासन: । एकैकं क्रतुमाहत्य शतकृत्व: शतक्रतु:,मरुद्गणोंसहित भगवान् पाकशासन इन्द्रने शत्रुओंको जीतकर एक-एक करके सौ बार अश्वमेध यज्ञका अनुष्ठान किया। इससे वे “शतक्रतु' नामसे विख्यात हो गये
marudbhiḥ saha jitvārīn bhagavān pākaśāsanaḥ | ekaikaṃ kratum āhatya śatakṛtvaḥ śatakratuḥ ||
Vyāsa dit : Accompagné des cohortes des Maruts, le bienheureux Indra—appelé Pākaśāsana, le châtieur de l’asura Pāka—ayant vaincu ses ennemis, accomplit le sacrifice de l’Aśvamedha cent fois, l’un après l’autre. Par l’accomplissement répété de ces grands rites, il devint célèbre sous l’épithète de « Śatakratu », seigneur de cent sacrifices.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and victory are portrayed as gaining lasting legitimacy when aligned with dharmic, sanctioned action—here symbolized by repeated performance of great sacrifices. Indra’s fame (Śatakratu) is not merely from conquest but from sustained commitment to recognized ritual order.
Vyāsa describes Indra, accompanied by the Maruts, defeating his enemies and then performing the Aśvamedha sacrifice a hundred times in succession, which earns him the celebrated title Śatakratu.