Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 37
Indra Slays Namuci—The Limits of Power and the Triumph of Divine Strategy
इति शक्रं विषीदन्तमाह वागशरीरिणी । नायं शुष्कैरथो नार्द्रैर्वधमर्हति दानव: ॥ ३७ ॥
iti śakraṁ viṣīdantam āha vāg aśarīriṇī nāyaṁ śuṣkair atho nārdrair vadham arhati dānavaḥ
Ketika Indra yang murung meratap demikian, terdengarlah suara tanpa wujud dari langit: “Asura Namuci ini tidak dapat dibinasakan oleh sesuatu yang kering maupun yang basah.”
FAQs
This verse presents a divine restriction: the demon cannot be killed by anything classified as dry or wet, indicating a boon-like protection and setting the terms by which providence will later overcome him without violating those conditions.
Indra was distressed during the Deva–Asura conflict, and the bodiless voice intervened to reveal the constraint on how the demon could be slain, guiding the devas toward a lawful, divinely sanctioned resolution.
Even powerful problems may have “constraints” that require wisdom over force; spiritual life emphasizes patience, guidance, and dharmic strategy rather than impulsive reaction.