Shloka 5
Arjuna’s Account of Tapas and the Kirāta Test; Revelation of Maheśvara and the Grant of the Pāśupata-Astra
देशकालान्तरप्रेप्सु: कृत्वा शक्र: पराक्रमम् । सम्प्राप्तस्त्रिदिवे राज्यं वृत्रहा वसुभि: सह,वीर पार्थ! जो पुरुष इसी प्रकार सब कर्मामें प्रवृत्त होता है, वह लोकमें सुयश और परलोकमें उत्तम गति पाता है। देश-कालके अन्तरपर दृष्टि रखनेवाले वृत्रासुर-विनाशक इन्द्रने वसुओंसहित पराक्रम करके स्वर्गका राज्य प्राप्त किया है
deśa-kālāntara-prepsuḥ kṛtvā śakraḥ parākramam | samprāptas tridive rājyam vṛtrahā vasubhiḥ saha ||
Keeping in view the differences of place and time, Śakra (Indra), the slayer of Vṛtra, displayed his valor and—together with the Vasus—attained sovereignty in the heaven-world. In the same way, O heroic Pārtha, a man who applies himself to all duties with such discernment gains fair fame in this world and a higher course in the next.
धनद उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should engage in one’s duties with discernment of place, time, and circumstance (deśa-kāla), for such well-judged action brings good repute here and a better destiny hereafter; Indra’s attainment of heavenly sovereignty is cited as an exemplar.
Dhanada (Kubera) addresses Pārtha (Arjuna) and illustrates a moral point by recalling how Indra, after displaying valor and slaying Vṛtra, obtained rule in heaven along with the Vasus—showing the fruit of timely, appropriate exertion.