Shloka 21
इन्द्रस्य दुःखप्राप्तिः—त्रिशिरोवधः, वृत्रोत्पत्तिः, जृम्भिकाजननम्
Indra’s Distress: Slaying of Triśiras, Birth of Vṛtra, and the Origin of Yawning
विनिश्चितमतिर्धीमान् वधे त्रेशिरसो5भवत् | प्रतापी वीर बुद्धिमान् देवराज इन्द्र चुपचाप सोचते हुए त्रिशिराके वधके विषयमें एक निश्चयपर पहुँच गये ।। वज्रमस्य क्षिपाम्यद्य स क्षिप्रं न भविष्यति
viniścitamatir dhīmān vadhe triśiraso 'bhavat | pratāpī vīra buddhimān devarāja indraḥ cupacāpa socate hue triśirāke vadha-ke viṣayameṃ eka niścayapara pahuṃca gaye || vajram asya kṣipāmy adya sa kṣipraṃ na bhaviṣyati ||
Śalya berkata: Indra, raja para dewa, yang bijaksana dan teguh tekad—pahlawan yang gagah dan berwibawa—berdiam diri merenung lalu sampai kepada keputusan muktamad tentang pembunuhan Triśiras. “Hari ini akan kulemparkan vajra (petir)ku kepadanya; dia tidak akan lama bertahan.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that lethal action, especially by a powerful authority, is a conscious moral choice. Indra’s silent deliberation and firm resolve underline accountability: deciding to kill is ethically weighty and not merely an impulsive act.
Śalya narrates that Indra, after quietly thinking, resolves to kill Triśiras and declares he will hurl his vajra (thunderbolt) that very day, implying Triśiras’ imminent death.