Shloka 9
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
समृद्धमात्रे त्रैलोक्ये प्रीतियुक्ते स्वयम्भुवि | पूर्वकालमें जब दैत्यों और दानवोंका संहार करनेवाला देवासुर-संग्राम समाप्त हो गया
samṛddhamātre trailokye prītiyukte svayambhuvi | rudrair vasubhir ādityair aśvibhyām api cārṣibhiḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Ketika tiga alam menjadi makmur dan Sang Pencipta Yang Tersendiri (Brahmā) dipenuhi sukacita; ketika para dewa dihormati dari segala penjuru—sesudah Viṣṇu dalam wujud Vāmana mengukur tiga alam dengan langkah-Nya dan Indra, pelaksana seratus yajña, menjadi raja para dewa—maka manusia daripada empat varṇa pun teguh pada dharma masing-masing. Pada masa itu, Indra, penguasa tiga alam, menaiki gajah diraja Airāvata yang bersinar dengan kemegahan ilahi dan dihiasi empat gading yang indah, lalu berangkat mengembara di tiga alam, dikelilingi para Rudra, Vasu, Āditya, kembar Aśvin, para resi, serta Gandharva, Nāga, Siddha dan Vidyādhara.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical-cosmic ideal: when divine authority is rightly established and worship is properly directed, human society stabilizes through adherence to one’s dharma (varṇa-dharma), producing prosperity and general well-being—an image of order (ṛta/dharma) reflected both in heaven and on earth.
After the gods’ victory and Viṣṇu’s Vāmana/Trivikrama act of measuring the three worlds, Indra becomes firmly enthroned as king of the gods. With the worlds flourishing and Brahmā pleased, Indra rides Airāvata and tours the three worlds, accompanied by major divine groups (Rudras, Vasus, Ādityas, Aśvins) and other celestial beings.