Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 11
Marutta’s Sacrifice: Indra’s Threat, Saṃvarta’s Mantric Restraint, and Divine Reconciliation (अध्याय १०)
अयमायाति वै वज्री दिशो विद्योतयन् दश । अमानुषेण घोरेण सदस्यास्त्रासिता हि नः
marutta uvāca | ayam āyāti vai vajrī diśo vidyotayan daśa | amānuṣeṇa ghoreṇa sadasyāstrāsitā hi naḥ ||
देखिए, वज्रधारी इन्द्र दसों दिशाओं को प्रकाशित करता हुआ आ रहा है। उसके भयंकर, अलौकिक गर्जन से हमारे यज्ञ-समाज के सदस्य सचमुच भयभीत हो उठे हैं।
मरुत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the overwhelming majesty of divine power and the human response of fear within a sacred setting; it implicitly points to the need for steadiness and rightful protection of a ritual community when confronted by forces beyond ordinary control.
Marutta reports that Indra, the thunderbolt-bearer, is approaching in a dazzling, direction-illuminating display, and that Indra’s terrifying, superhuman roar has caused the participants in the sacrificial assembly to tremble with fear.