Shloka 23
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 13: Śacī’s Delay, Deva-Counsel, and Indra’s Purification
तदनन्तर शचीपति इन्द्रदेव पुन सबकी आँखोंसे ओझल हो गये तथा अनुकूल समयकी प्रतीक्षा करते हुए समस्त प्राणियोंसे अदृश्य रहकर विचरने लगे ।। प्रणष्टे तु ततः शक्रे शच्ची शोकसमन्विता । हा शक्रेति तदा देवी विललाप सुदु:खिता,इन्द्रके पुन: अदृश्य हो जानेपर शची देवी शोकमें डूब गयीं और अत्यन्त दुःखी हो “हा इन्द्र! हा इन्द्र” कहती हुई विलाप करने लगीं
tadanantaraṁ śacīpatiḥ indrdevaḥ punaḥ sarvākṣibhyāṁ tirobhūya anukūla-kālaṁ pratīkṣamāṇaḥ sarva-prāṇibhyo ’dṛśyaḥ san vicacāra. praṇaṣṭe tu tataḥ śakre śacī śoka-samanvitā; hā śakreti tadā devī vilalāpa suduḥkhitā.
Sesudah itu Indra, suami Śacī, sekali lagi hilang daripada pandangan semua. Sambil menanti saat yang menguntungkan, baginda berkelana tanpa terlihat oleh segala makhluk. Apabila Śakra lenyap demikian, Śacī pun tenggelam dalam dukacita; amat menderita, sang dewi meratap berulang-ulang, “Aduhai Śakra! Aduhai Indra!”
नहुष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how even divine power operates within the constraints of time and circumstance: Indra chooses concealment and waits for an opportune moment, while Śacī’s lament shows the human-like cost of uncertainty and separation. Ethically, it underscores patience and strategic restraint (waiting for the right time) alongside the reality of grief when protection or leadership suddenly withdraws.
Indra (Śacīpati/Śakra) becomes invisible again and roams unseen, waiting for a favorable time. In response, his consort Śacī (Indrāṇī) is plunged into sorrow and cries out repeatedly, lamenting his disappearance.