Shloka 42
भीष्म उवाच ततस्तु तैः शपथै: शप्यमानै- ननिविधैर्बहुभि: कौरवेन्द्र । सहस्राक्षो देवराट् सम्प्रहृष्ट: समीक्ष्य तं कोपनं विप्रमुख्यम्,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--कौरवेन्द्र! इस प्रकार जब सब लोग नाना प्रकारकी अनेकानेक शपथ कर चुके, तब सहस्र नेत्रधारी देवराज इन्द्र बड़े प्रसन्न हुए और उन विप्रवर अगस्त्यको कुपित हुआ देख उनके सामने प्रकट हो गये
bhīṣma uvāca | tatastu taiḥ śapathaiḥ śapyamānaiḥ nānāvidhair bahubhiḥ kauravendra | sahasrākṣo devarāṭ samprahṛṣṭaḥ samīkṣya taṃ kopanaṃ vipramukhyam ||
ビーシュマは言った。「クル族の主よ、人々がこのように多種多様な厳粛な誓いを数多く立てて自らを縛ったとき、千眼の神々の王インドラは大いに喜んだ。最上のバラモン、アガスティヤが怒りに燃えるのを見て、インドラはその前に姿を現した。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of śapatha (solemn oaths): when vows are sincerely undertaken and dharma is upheld, divine forces are portrayed as becoming favorable. It also underscores the narrative idea that even a great sage’s anger is significant enough to draw divine attention, implying the need for restraint and right resolution.
After many people make various oaths, Indra is pleased. Observing an eminent brahmin-sage (identified in the accompanying tradition as Agastya) in an angry state, Indra appears before him, setting up a divine encounter that will influence the unfolding events.