Shloka 10
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
गन्धर्वर्भुजगेन्द्रैश्व सिद्धै श्वान्यैर्वुत: प्रभु: । चतुर्दन्तं सुदान्तं च वारणेन्द्रं श्रिया वृतम् । आरुह्ौरावतं शक्रस्त्रैलोक्यमनुसंययौ
gandharva-bhujagendraiś ca siddhaiḥ śvānyair vṛtaḥ prabhuḥ | caturdantaṃ sudāntaṃ ca vāraṇendraṃ śriyā vṛtam | āruhya airāvataṃ śakras trailokyam anusañcayau ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Dikelilingi para Gandharva, raja-raja Nāga, para Siddha dan makhluk samawi yang lain, Sang Penguasa perkasa Śakra (Indra) menaiki Airāvata—raja segala gajah, bergading empat yang gemilang, terlatih baik dan diselubungi kemuliaan ilahi—lalu berangkat mengembara di tiga alam.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents Indra’s majesty and movement through the three worlds as a symbol of rightful sovereignty: power is shown as ordered, attended by worthy beings, and oriented toward sustaining cosmic and moral order (dharma), not mere display.
Bhīṣma describes Indra, surrounded by celestial attendants (Gandharvas, Nāga-lords, Siddhas, and others), mounting his elephant Airāvata—four-tusked, well-trained, and radiant—and setting out to traverse the three worlds.