Shloka 21
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
ये तथा और भी बहुत-सी कठोर बातें सुनाकर इन्द्रने बलिका तिरस्कार किया। विरोचनकुमार बलिने वे सारी बातें बड़े आनन्दसे सुन लीं और मनमें तनिक भी घबराहट न लाकर उन्हें इस प्रकार उत्तर दिया ।।
balir uvāca | nigṛhīte mayi bhṛśaṃ śakra kiṃ katthitena te | vajram udyamya tiṣṭhantaṃ paśyāmi tvāṃ purandara ||
Bali berkata: “Wahai Śakra, apabila aku sudah pun ditangkap dan dikekang dengan kuat, apakah untungnya bagimu bermegah lantang di hadapanku? Wahai Purandara, aku melihat engkau berdiri di sini dengan vajra terangkat.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in defeat, dignity and moral clarity matter: Bali criticizes triumphal boasting and implies that true strength needs no loud self-display, especially against one already subdued.
After Indra humiliates him with harsh words, Bali—already captured—responds calmly, questioning the point of Indra’s boasting and noting that Indra stands before him with the vajra raised.