Shloka 5
Indra Slays Namuci—The Limits of Power and the Triumph of Divine Strategy
आरुरुक्षन्ति मायाभिरुत्सिसृप्सन्ति ये दिवम् । तान्दस्यून्विधुनोम्यज्ञान्पूर्वस्माच्च पदादध: ॥ ५ ॥
ārurukṣanti māyābhir utsisṛpsanti ye divam tān dasyūn vidhunomy ajñān pūrvasmāc ca padād adhaḥ
മായാശക്തികൊണ്ട് സ്വർഗ്ഗലോകങ്ങളിലേക്കോ അതിനുമുകളിലേക്കോ ഉയരാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്ന വിഡ്ഢികളെയും നീചന്മാരെയും ഞാൻ പ്രപഞ്ചത്തിന്റെ ഏറ്റവും താഴ്ന്ന തലങ്ങളിലേക്ക് തള്ളിയിടുന്നു.
There are undoubtedly different planetary systems for different persons. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (14.18) , ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthāḥ: persons in the mode of goodness can go to the upper planets. Those in the modes of darkness and passion, however, are not allowed to enter the higher planets. The word divam refers to the higher planetary system known as Svargaloka. Indra, King of the higher planetary system, has the power to push down any conditioned soul attempting to go from the lower to the higher planets without proper qualifications. The modern attempt to go to the moon is also an attempt by inferior men to go to Svargaloka by artificial, mechanical means. This attempt cannot be successful. From this statement of Indra it appears that anyone attempting to go to the higher planetary systems by mechanical means, which are here called māyā, is condemned to go to the hellish planets in the lower portion of the universe. To go to the higher planetary system, one needs sufficient good qualities. A sinful person situated in the mode of ignorance and addicted to drinking, meat-eating and illicit sex will never enter the higher planets by mechanical means.
FAQs
This verse states that those who attempt to rise to heavenly status through māyā (deception) are cast down—false elevation leads to degradation rather than true progress.
In the context of the deva-asura conflict, Indra asserts his role in protecting the celestial order by rejecting and driving down those who attempt to intrude into heaven through unrighteous or ignorant means.
Avoid shortcuts built on deception—status gained through manipulation is unstable; pursue advancement through integrity, duty (dharma), and devotion rather than exploitative tactics.