Shloka 11
Arjuna meets the Lokapālas, is tested by Indra, and is led to Amarāvatī for astra-śikṣā
Indraloka-gamana
एतं पर्वतराजानं समुद्र च महोदधिम् | आवसन् वरुणो राजा भूतानि परिरक्षति,“राजन! जहाँ जाकर भगवान् सूर्य सत्यसे प्रतिष्ठित होते हैं, उस पर्वतराजको मनीषी पुरुष अस्ताचल कहते हैं। गिरिराज अस्ताचल और महान् जलराशिसे भरे हुए समुद्रमें रहकर राजा वरुण समस्त प्राणियोंकी रक्षा करते हैं
etaṁ parvatarājānaṁ samudraṁ ca mahodadhim | āvasan varuṇo rājā bhūtāni parirakṣati ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Dwelling upon that king of mountains and within the ocean—the vast reservoir of waters—King Varuṇa abides, safeguarding all living beings. The passage situates cosmic order in geography: the mountain associated with the sun’s setting and the great sea become Varuṇa’s seat, from which he upholds protection and restraint, key supports of dharma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents Varuṇa as a guardian-king whose residence in the ocean symbolizes protective sovereignty and moral restraint; cosmic governance is portrayed as the safeguarding of all beings, aligning kingship with dharma.
Vaiśampāyana describes Varuṇa’s abode: he dwells in relation to a preeminent mountain and the great ocean, and from there he protects living creatures—linking divine presence to specific cosmic locations.