Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 17
Indra Slays Namuci—The Limits of Power and the Triumph of Divine Strategy
तस्य तत् पूजयन् कर्म यन्तुर्दानवसत्तम: । शूलेन ज्वलता तं तु स्मयमानोऽहनन्मृधे ॥ १७ ॥
tasya tat pūjayan karma yantur dānava-sattamaḥ śūlena jvalatā taṁ tu smayamāno ’hanan mṛdhe
Menghargai bakti Mātali, Jambhāsura, yang terbaik di antara para asura, tersenyum; namun di medan laga ia menghantam Mātali dengan trisula yang menyala-nyala.
FAQs
It describes a leading Dānava praising his charioteer’s action and then, smiling, striking his opponent with a flaming trident during the battle.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating the events of the Deva–Asura battle to King Parīkṣit.
Even amid conflict, the Bhagavatam highlights roles like service and strategy (the charioteer’s deed) while warning that pride and aggression—hallmarks of asuric mentality—lead to further violence rather than spiritual progress.