Shloka 21
Śakrasya Divyā Sabhā
Indra’s Radiant Assembly Hall
भरतवंशी नरेश पाण्डुनन्दन! सहदेव, सुनीथ, महातपस्वी वाल्मीकि, सत्यवादी शमीक, सत्यप्रतिज्ञ प्रचेता, मेधातिथि, वामदेव, पुलस्त्य, पुलह, क्रतु, मरुत्त, मरीचि, महातपस्वी स्थाणु, कक्षीवान्, गौतम, तार्क्ष्य, वैश्वानर मुनि, षडर्तु, कवष, धूम्र, रैभ्य, नल, परावसु, स्वस्त्यात्रेय, जरत्कारु, कहोल, काश्यप, विभाण्डक, ऋष्यशृंग, उन्मुख, विमुख, कालकवृक्षीय मुनि, आश्राव्य, हिरण्मय, संवर्त, देवहव्य, पराक्रमी विष्वक्सेन, कण्व, कात्यायन, गार्ग्य, कौशिक, दिव्य जल, ओषधियाँ, श्रद्धा, मेधा, सरस्वती, अर्थ, धर्म, काम, विद्युत, जलधर मेघ, वायु, गर्जना करनेवाले बादल, प्राची दिशा, यज्ञके हविष्यको वहन करनेवाले सत्ताईस पावक,- सम्मिलित अग्नि और सोम, संयुक्त इन्द्र और अग्नि, मित्र, सविता, अर्यमा, भग, विश्वेदेव, साध्य, बृहस्पति, शुक्र, विश्वावसु, चित्रसेन, सुमन, तरुण, विविध यज्ञ, दक्षिणा, ग्रह, तारा और यज्ञनिर्वाहक मन्त्र--ये सभी वहाँ इन्द्रसभामें बैठते हैं
nārada uvāca | bharatavaṃśī nareśa pāṇḍunandana! sahadevaḥ, sunīthaḥ, mahātapāsvī vālmīkiḥ, satyavādī śamīkaḥ, satyapratijñaḥ pracetāḥ, medhātithiḥ, vāmadevaḥ, pulastyaḥ, pulahaḥ, kratuḥ, maruttaḥ, marīciḥ, mahātapāsvī sthāṇuḥ, kakṣīvān, gautamaḥ, tārkṣyaḥ, vaiśvānara-muniḥ, ṣaḍṛtuḥ, kavaṣaḥ, dhūmraḥ, raibhyaḥ, nalaḥ, parāvasuḥ, svastyātreyaḥ, jaratkāruḥ, kaholaḥ, kāśyapaḥ, vibhāṇḍakaḥ, ṛṣyaśṛṅgaḥ, unmukhaḥ, vimukhaḥ, kālakavṛkṣīya-muniḥ, āśrāvyaḥ, hiraṇmayaḥ, saṃvartaḥ, devahavyaḥ, parākrāmī viśvaksenaḥ, kaṇvaḥ, kātyāyanaḥ, gārgyaḥ, kauśikaḥ, divyaṃ jalam, oṣadhayaḥ, śraddhā, medhā, sarasvatī, arthaḥ, dharmaḥ, kāmaḥ, vidyut, jaladhara-meghāḥ, vāyuḥ, garjanakāriṇaḥ bādalāḥ, prācī diśā, yajñahaviṣo vahantaḥ saptaviṃśatiḥ pāvakāḥ, sammilitau agni-somau, saṃyuktau indra-agni, mitraḥ, savitā, aryamā, bhagaḥ, viśvedevāḥ, sādhyāḥ, bṛhaspatiḥ, śukraḥ, viśvāvasuḥ, citrasenaḥ, sumanaḥ, taruṇaḥ, vividhāni yajñāḥ, dakṣiṇā, grahāḥ, tārāḥ, yajñanirvāhakāḥ mantrāḥ—ete sarve tatra indrasabhāyāṃ niṣīdanti |
Narada said: “O prince of the Bharata line, son of Pandu! In Indra’s celestial assembly sit many exalted beings—Sahadeva and Sunitha; great ascetics such as Valmiki; truth-speaking sages like Shamika; those firm in vows such as Prachetas; and seers including Medhatithi, Vamadeva, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Marutta, Marichi, and the mighty ascetic Sthanu. There too are Kakshivan, Gautama, Tarkshya, the sage Vaishvanara, Shadritu, Kavasha, Dhumra, Raibhya, Nala, Paravasu, Svastyatreya, Jaratkaru, Kahola, Kashyapa, Vibhandaka, Rishyashringa, Unmukha, Vimukha, the Kalakavrikshiya sage, Ashravya, Hiranmaya, Samvarta, Devahavya, and the valiant Vishvaksena; also Kanva, Katyayana, Gargya, and Kaushika. Along with them are divine waters and healing herbs; personified virtues and powers—Faith, Intelligence, Sarasvati, Prosperity, Dharma, Desire; lightning, rain-bearing clouds, wind, and thunderous storm-clouds; the eastern direction; the twenty-seven fires that carry sacrificial offerings; Agni and Soma together; Indra united with Agni; Mitra, Savitar, Aryaman, Bhaga; the Vishvedevas and the Sadhyas; Brihaspati and Shukra; the Gandharvas Vishvavasu and Chitrasena; and also Suman, Taruna, diverse sacrifices, sacrificial fees, planets, stars, and the mantras that accomplish the rites. All these are seated there in Indra’s hall.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage presents Indra’s court as a moral-cosmic order where sages, deities, ritual powers, and personified virtues (Dharma, Shraddha, Medha) coexist. It implies that righteous sovereignty is upheld not merely by force but by truth, vows, austerity, and the sacrificial-ethical framework that sustains the world.
Narada addresses a Pandava and describes who sits in Indra’s assembly hall—an extensive catalogue of revered rishis, gods, celestial beings, natural forces, and ritual elements—thereby portraying the grandeur and legitimacy of Indra’s sabha and the cosmic hierarchy it represents.