Shloka 43
Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)
अथ ब्रह्मवध्याभयप्रणष्टे त्रलोक्यनाथे शचीपतौ जगदनीश्वरं॑ बभूव देवान् रजस्तमश्नाविवेश मन्त्रा न प्रावर्तन्त महर्षीणां रक्षांसि प्रादुरभवन् ब्रह्म चोत्सादनं जगामानिन्द्राश्नाबला लोका: सुप्रधृष्या बभूवु:
atha brahmavadhyābhayapraṇaṣṭe trilokyanāthe śacīpatau jagadanīśvaraṃ babhūva | devān rajastamaś cānvāviśet | mantrā na prāvartanta maharṣīṇāṃ rakṣāṃsi prādurabhavan | brahma cotsādanaṃ jagāma | anindrāś ca balā lokāḥ supradhṛṣyā babhūvuḥ ||
Kemudian, ketika Indra—penguasa tiga dunia, suami Śacī—lenyap karena takut akan dosa brahma-hatyā, alam semesta pun menjadi tanpa penguasa. Gairah (rajas) dan kegelapan (tamas) meluap di kalangan para dewa. Mantra para maharsi tak lagi berdaya; para rākṣasa mulai menampakkan diri dan bertambah. Pelajaran Weda serta tatanan suci merosot. Tanpa perlindungan Indra, tiga dunia melemah dan menjadi mudah diserang serta ditaklukkan.
तास्त्वाष्ट उवाच क्व गमिष्यथास्यतां तावन्मया सह श्रेयो भविष्यन्तीति
Educational Q&A
When the rightful protector and moral authority withdraws due to guilt and fear, social and cosmic order deteriorate: passion and delusion rise, sacred disciplines lose efficacy, predatory forces grow, and the world becomes vulnerable. The passage stresses the ethical necessity of responsible leadership and the far-reaching consequences of grave wrongdoing.
Indra, burdened by fear connected with brahma-slaying, disappears. In his absence the universe lacks governance; the gods are overcome by rajas and tamas, sages’ mantras fail, rākṣasas proliferate, Vedic study declines, and the three worlds become weak and easily conquered.