Shloka 1
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 13: Śacī’s Delay, Deva-Counsel, and Indra’s Purification
अपन क्राता छा अकाल त्रयोदशो< ध्याय: नहुषका इन्द्राणीको कुछ कालकी अवधि देना, इन्द्रका ब्रह्महत्यासे उद्धार तथा शचीकद्वारा रात्रिदेवीकी उपासना शल्य उवाच अथ तामब्रवीद् दृष्टवा नहुषो देवराट् तदा । त्रयाणामपि लोकानामहमिन्द्र: शुचिस्मिते
śalya uvāca | atha tām abravīd dṛṣṭvā nahuṣo devarāṭ tadā | trayāṇām api lokānām aham indraḥ śucismite ||
ശല്യൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അപ്പോൾ ദേവരാജസ്ഥാനത്ത് ഇരുന്ന നഹുഷൻ അവളെ കണ്ടു പറഞ്ഞു—“ഹേ ശുചിസ്മിതേ! ത്രിലോകങ്ങളുടെയും ഇന്ദ്രൻ ഞാൻ തന്നെയാണ്.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Authority asserted by title or force is ethically fragile; true sovereignty in the Mahābhārata is measured by dharma—self-control, truth, and rightful conduct—rather than mere possession of office.
In Śalya’s narration, Nahuṣa, having assumed Indra’s role, speaks to Indrāṇī (Śacī) and declares himself to be Indra over the three worlds, setting up the ensuing conflict between his claim and the rightful order.