Shloka 10
Dhūpa–Dīpa–Bali Phala Praśna; Nahūṣa–Agastya–Bhṛgu Saṃvāda
Incense, Lamp, and Bali Offerings; the Nahūṣa Dialogue
अथेन्द्रोड5हमिति ज्ञात्वा अहंकारं समाविशत् । सर्वाश्वैव क्रियास्तस्य पर्यहीयन्त भूपते:
athendro ’ham iti jñātvā ahaṅkāraṃ samāviśat | sarvāś caiva kriyās tasya paryahīyanta bhūpate ||
ಆದರೆ ನಂತರ ‘ನಾನೇ ಇಂದ್ರ’ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿದು ಅವನು ಅಹಂಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಒಳಗಾದನು. ಓ ಭೂಪತೇ, ಆ ಕ್ಷಣದಿಂದ ಆ ರಾಜನ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಧರ್ಮಸಮ್ಮತ ಕ್ರಿಯೆಗಳು ಕ್ಷೀಣಿಸಿ ನಾಶಪ್ರಾಯವಾಗತೊಡಗಿದವು।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a ruler (or anyone) identifies with supreme power—‘I am like Indra’—ego takes over, and even capable, dharmic action loses its efficacy. Pride becomes the cause of decline.
Bhishma describes a turning point: the person addressed becomes intoxicated with self-importance, imagining himself Indra. As a consequence, his works and initiatives begin to fail and diminish, signaling moral and practical downfall.