Shloka 21
स च तैव्यथित: शक्रो वसिष्ठं शरणं ययौ । ततो<5भयं ददौ तेभ्यो वसिष्ठो भगवानृषि:
sa ca tair vyathitaḥ śakro vasiṣṭhaṃ śaraṇaṃ yayau | tato 'bhayaṃ dadau tebhyo vasiṣṭho bhagavān ṛṣiḥ |
Bhīṣma berkata: Indra (Śakra), yang tertekan oleh para Daitya itu, pergi mencari perlindungan pada Vasiṣṭha. Lalu resi mulia Vasiṣṭha mengurniakan kepada mereka rasa tidak gentar—melindungi para dewa yang tertindas dengan wibawa rohani, menunjukkan bahawa keselamatan sejati lahir daripada dharma dan kekuatan tapas, bukan semata-mata daripada kekerasan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When worldly power is shaken, one should seek śaraṇa (refuge) in a dharmic authority; the protection (abhaya) granted by a true ṛṣi arises from tapas and righteousness, not merely from weapons or political strength.
Indra is troubled by the Daityas and approaches the sage Vasiṣṭha for protection; Vasiṣṭha then grants fearlessness to the gods, indicating his capacity to safeguard them through spiritual power.