Shloka 18
Arjuna meets the Lokapālas, is tested by Indra, and is led to Amarāvatī for astra-śikṣā
Indraloka-gamana
ब्रहद्मण: सदनात् तस्य परं स्थान प्रकाशते । देवा अपि न पश्यन्ति सर्वतेजोमयं शुभम्
bṛhadmaṇaḥ sadanāt tasya paraṃ sthānaṃ prakāśate | devā api na paśyanti sarvatejomayaṃ śubham |
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Melampaui alam Brahmā yang luas itu, terserlah pula suatu kediaman-Nya yang lebih tinggi, bersinar gemilang. Bahkan para dewa pun tidak dapat memandang rupa-Nya yang suci lagi bertuah, yang seluruhnya tersusun daripada cahaya. Ia bercahaya dengan sinarnya sendiri, mengatasi kilau matahari dan api, dan penglihatannya amat sukar bagi dewa mahupun asura.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the transcendence of the Supreme Lord’s abode: it lies beyond even Brahmā’s realm and is so purely radiant and self-manifest that ordinary divine perception cannot easily reach it. The ethical implication is humility before the highest reality and the recognition that spiritual realization surpasses mere celestial status.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes a supreme, higher-than-Brahmaloka divine station. He stresses its overwhelming brilliance and the difficulty even gods face in beholding it, reinforcing the exceptional, transcendent nature of the Supreme Lord referenced in the surrounding passage.