Shloka 17
इन्द्र रवाच अस्माभिरननिन्दितावेतौ भवेतां सोमपौ कथम् | देवैर्न सम्मितावेतौ तस्मान्मैवं वदस्व न:
indra uvāca—asmābhir ananinditāv etau bhavetāṃ somapau katham | devair na sammitāv etau tasmān maivaṃ vadasva naḥ ||
Indra berkata: “Wahai yang tidak bercela, dua Ashvin itu telah kami cela; bagaimana mungkin mereka berhak meminum Soma? Mereka tidak diakui setara martabatnya dengan para dewa. Maka janganlah engkau berkata kepada kami demikian bagi pihak mereka.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the idea of adhikāra (eligibility) in ritual contexts and how social/divine recognition and perceived merit can be invoked to accept or deny participation. It also shows the ethical weight of speech—Indra asks the interlocutor not to press a claim in a way that challenges established status.
Within Bhīṣma’s narration, Indra is quoted objecting to the Aśvinīkumāras being granted Soma-drinking rights. He argues that since they have been censured and are not regarded as equal to the other gods, they should not be proposed as Soma-drinkers.