Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)
अथ ब्रह्मवध्याभयप्रणष्टे त्रलोक्यनाथे शचीपतौ जगदनीश्वरं॑ बभूव देवान् रजस्तमश्नाविवेश मन्त्रा न प्रावर्तन्त महर्षीणां रक्षांसि प्रादुरभवन् ब्रह्म चोत्सादनं जगामानिन्द्राश्नाबला लोका: सुप्रधृष्या बभूवु:
atha brahmavadhyābhayapraṇaṣṭe trilokyanāthe śacīpatau jagadanīśvaraṃ babhūva | devān rajastamaś cānvāviśet | mantrā na prāvartanta maharṣīṇāṃ rakṣāṃsi prādurabhavan | brahma cotsādanaṃ jagāma | anindrāś ca balā lokāḥ supradhṛṣyā babhūvuḥ ||
そののち、三界の主—舎脂(シャチー)の夫たるインドラ—が、婆羅門殺しの罪(brahma-hatyā)を恐れて姿を消すと、宇宙は統べる者を失った。神々のあいだには欲動と闇(ラジャスとタマス)が押し寄せ、偉大なるリシたちの真言ももはや効力を示さない。羅刹たちは公然と現れ、ヴェーダの学習と聖なる秩序は衰えた。インドラ不在で守護が退くや、三界は弱まり、攻め取られ征服されやすいものとなった。
तास्त्वाष्ट उवाच क्व गमिष्यथास्यतां तावन्मया सह श्रेयो भविष्यन्तीति
When the rightful protector and moral authority withdraws due to guilt and fear, social and cosmic order deteriorate: passion and delusion rise, sacred disciplines lose efficacy, predatory forces grow, and the world becomes vulnerable. The passage stresses the ethical necessity of responsible leadership and the far-reaching consequences of grave wrongdoing.
Indra, burdened by fear connected with brahma-slaying, disappears. In his absence the universe lacks governance; the gods are overcome by rajas and tamas, sages’ mantras fail, rākṣasas proliferate, Vedic study declines, and the three worlds become weak and easily conquered.