Shloka 30
Adhyāya 136: Yavakrī–Bharadvāja Saṃvāda and the Bāladhī–Dhanuṣākṣa Gāthā
Arrogance, Boons, and Nimitta
तत इन्द्रोडकरोद् रूपं ब्राह्मणस्य तपस्विन: । अनेकशतवर्षस्य दुर्बलस्यथ सयक्ष्मण:,लोमशजी कहते हैं--युधिष्ठिर! उन महामुनिके उस निश्चयको जानकर बुद्धिमान् इन्द्रने उन्हें रोकनेके लिये बुद्धिपूर्वक कुछ विचार किया और एक ऐसे तपस्वी ब्राह्मणका रूप धारण कर लिया जिसकी उम्र कई सौ वर्षोकी थी, तथा जो यक्ष्माका रोगी और दुर्बल दिखायी देता था
tata indrō ’karod rūpaṃ brāhmaṇasya tapasvinaḥ | anekaśata-varṣasya durbalasyātha sa-yakṣmaṇaḥ ||
Then Indra, having understood the sage’s firm resolve, thoughtfully devised a way to restrain him. Assuming the guise of an ascetic brāhmaṇa—one who appeared many hundreds of years old, weak, and afflicted with consumption—he approached in order to test and turn him back. The episode underscores how even divine intervention may take humble, suffering forms to examine steadfastness and guide action toward dharma.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma may be protected through restraint and wise intervention: a higher power can appear in humble, even suffering, forms to test firmness of purpose and redirect action away from harmful extremes.
Lomaśa narrates that Indra, perceiving a great ascetic’s unshakable determination, decides to stop him by adopting the appearance of an aged, weak, disease-stricken brāhmaṇa ascetic.