Shloka 3
वसूनां वा भवानेको रुद्राणामथवा भवान् | अथवा मरुतां श्रेष्ठो वज्नी वा त्रिदशेश्वर:
vasūnāṃ vā bhavān eko rudrāṇām athavā bhavān | athavā marutāṃ śreṣṭho vajrī vā tridaśeśvaraḥ ||
Apakah engkau salah satu di antara para Vasu, atau salah satu di antara para Rudra? Ataukah engkau yang utama di antara para Marut? Atau engkau sendiri Vajrī—Indra, penguasa para dewa tiga puluh tiga?
युधिछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic humility: when confronted with extraordinary presence, one should respond with respect and discernment, seeking the true identity so that one’s speech and actions remain appropriate and righteous.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses an awe-inspiring figure and, struck by the person’s majesty, wonders whether he is a divine being—one of the Vasus, Rudras, or Maruts—or even Indra himself, the thunderbolt-wielding king of the gods.