ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
तमेवमुक्त्वा भगवाउछतक्रतु:ः प्रतिप्रयातों गजराजवाहन: । विजित्य सर्वानसुरान् सुराधिपो ननन्द हर्षेण बभूव चैकराट्
tam evam uktvā bhagavān śatakratuḥ pratiprayāto gajarāja-vāhanaḥ | vijitya sarvān asurān surādhipo nananda harṣeṇa babhūva ca ekarāṭ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「かく語り終えると、福徳あるシャタクラトゥ(インドラ)は象王に乗り、立ち去って自らの住処へ帰還した。すべてのアスラを征服したのち、彼は諸天の主の位に堅く据えられ、比類なき唯一の王として、歓喜に満ちて喜び躍った。」
भीष्म उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical ideal that rightful authority and social-cosmic order are restored when disruptive forces are overcome; legitimate sovereignty, once re-established, brings stability and rightful joy rather than mere personal triumph.
After addressing Bali (implied by context), Indra—mounted on Airāvata—returns to his own realm. Having defeated the Asuras, he is reinstated as lord of the gods and rejoices as an undisputed sovereign.