Shloka 117
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
तमेवमुक्त्वा भगवाउछतक्रतु:ः प्रतिप्रयातों गजराजवाहन: । विजित्य सर्वानसुरान् सुराधिपो ननन्द हर्षेण बभूव चैकराट्
tam evam uktvā bhagavān śatakratuḥ pratiprayāto gajarāja-vāhanaḥ | vijitya sarvān asurān surādhipo nananda harṣeṇa babhūva ca ekarāṭ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Setelah berkata demikian, Śatakratu yang diberkati (Indra), yang menunggang raja gajah, pun berangkat dan kembali ke kediamannya sendiri. Sesudah menewaskan dan menundukkan semua Asura, baginda teguh bertakhta sebagai penguasa para dewa; dan sebagai raja tunggal yang tiada tandingan, baginda bersukacita, meluap dengan kegembiraan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical ideal that rightful authority and social-cosmic order are restored when disruptive forces are overcome; legitimate sovereignty, once re-established, brings stability and rightful joy rather than mere personal triumph.
After addressing Bali (implied by context), Indra—mounted on Airāvata—returns to his own realm. Having defeated the Asuras, he is reinstated as lord of the gods and rejoices as an undisputed sovereign.