Shloka 18
विन्ध्यवृद्धिनिवारणम् — The Restraint of the Vindhya
Agastya’s Injunction
समेत्य समहेन्द्रा श्ष भयान्मन्त्र प्रचक्रिरे शरण्यं शरणं देव॑ नारायणमजं विभुम्
sametya saha-indrāś ca bhayān mantraṁ pracakrire | śaraṇyaṁ śaraṇaṁ devaṁ nārāyaṇam ajaṁ vibhum ||
神々は集い、インドラをはじめ諸天も—恐れに震えつつ—聖なる策をめぐらした。そして究極の庇護として、護り手なるナーラーヤナ（Nārāyaṇa）、不生にして遍在する主に帰依した。
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
When even the gods are overcome by fear, the highest remedy is śaraṇāgati—taking refuge in the supreme protector. The verse emphasizes Nārāyaṇa as the unborn, all-pervading source of security and right order.
Indra and the other gods, troubled by a fearful situation, assemble and formulate a course of action. Their decisive step is to seek protection and guidance from Nārāyaṇa, acknowledging him as the ultimate refuge.