Shloka 28
अलंघयदू वै सरितो जिघांसन् शक्रं वज्ं प्रहरन्तं निरास । स महेन्द्र: स्तूयते वै महाध्वरे विप्रैरैको ऋक््सहस: पुराणै:
alaṅghayad ū vai sarito jighāṃsan śakraṃ vajraṃ praharantaṃ nirāsa | sa mahendraḥ stūyate vai mahādhvare viprair eko ṛk-sahasraiḥ purāṇaiḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「シャクラ（インドラ）を討たんとして、彼は幾多の河を跳び越え、雷霆の武器ヴァジュラ（vajra）を振り下ろそうとするインドラを退けた。その同じ御方こそ“マヘーンドラ”として讃えられる。大いなる祭儀において、婆羅門たちは古きリグ・ヴェーダの賛歌を幾千ももって、ただその御方のみを称揚する。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Supreme divinity transcends and governs even the highest gods: the same reality that can thwart Indra’s thunderbolt is also the one praised in Vedic sacrifices. Ethically, it cautions against pride in power and directs reverence toward the ultimate source behind divine authority.
A divine figure (implied as the supreme lord) intends to slay Indra, crosses many rivers in pursuit, and repels Indra when he raises the vajra to strike. Bhīṣma then identifies that very being as ‘Mahendra,’ praised by Brahmins in great sacrifices with thousands of ancient Ṛgvedic hymns.