Shloka 49
Vṛtra’s Cosmic Threat, Viṣṇu’s Upāya, and the Conditional Vulnerability
Udyoga-parva 10
अराजकं जगत् सर्वमभिभूतमुपद्रव: । ततो भीता5भवन् देवा: को नो राजा भवेदिति,सम्पूर्ण जगत्में अराजकताके कारण भारी उपद्रव होने लगे। स्वर्गमें देवराज इन्द्रके न होनेसे देवता तथा देवर्षि भी भयभीत होकर सोचने लगे--“अब हमारा राजा कौन होगा?' देवताओंमेंसे कोई भी स्वर्गका राजा बननेका विचार नहीं करता था
arājakaṁ jagat sarvam abhibhūtam upadravaiḥ | tato bhītā abhavan devāḥ ko no rājā bhaved iti ||
世界が王を失うと、災厄と乱れがあまねく覆った。恐れた神々は「いまや我らの王は誰となるのか」と思い巡らした。インドラ不在により、天界の秩序さえ主を失ったかのようであった。
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores a dharmic political ethic: when legitimate rulership is absent, society is quickly overwhelmed by upadravas (disturbances). Order, protection, and justice depend on responsible kingship; leaderlessness breeds fear even among those who are otherwise powerful.
Śalya describes a time of leaderlessness: the world suffers widespread turmoil, and the gods—feeling the vacuum created by the absence of their king (Indra)—become anxious and ask who will rule them.