Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 33
Ikṣvāku Dynasty: Vikukṣi’s Offense, Purañjaya’s Victory, Māndhātā’s Birth, and Saubhari’s Fall and Renunciation
त्रसद्दस्युरितीन्द्रोऽङ्ग विदधे नाम यस्य वै । यस्मात् त्रसन्ति ह्युद्विग्ना दस्यवो रावणादय: ॥ ३३ ॥ यौवनाश्वोऽथ मान्धाता चक्रवर्त्यवनीं प्रभु: । सप्तद्वीपवतीमेक: शशासाच्युततेजसा ॥ ३४ ॥
trasaddasyur itīndro ’ṅga vidadhe nāma yasya vai yasmāt trasanti hy udvignā dasyavo rāvaṇādayaḥ
Wahai Parīkṣit, Indra menamai dia “Trasaddasyu”, sebab Rāvaṇa dan para perampok lainnya gemetar ketakutan olehnya. Dengan rahmat Acyuta, putra Yuvanāśva itu—Māndhātā—menjadi cakravartī yang amat perkasa dan memerintah bumi bertujuh pulau seorang diri, tanpa tandingan.
FAQs
This verse explains that Indra named him Trasaddasyu because his strength made the dasyus (lawless marauders) tremble in fear.
To highlight the king’s divinely recognized power and role as a protector—so formidable that even notorious aggressors were shaken.
Leadership should protect society from exploitation and lawlessness; real authority is measured by safeguarding the innocent, not by self-interest.