Shloka 17
इक्ष्वाकुवंश-प्रसङ्गः, पुरंजय-दैवसाहाय्य-कथा, युवनाश्व-मांधातृ-उत्पत्तिः, सौभरि-वैराग्योपदेशः
ऊचुश् चैनं । भो भोः क्षत्रियवर्यास्माभिर् अभ्यर्थितेन भवतास्माकम् अरातिवधोद्यतानां साहाय्यं कृतम् इच्छामः । तद् भवतास्माकम् अभ्यागतानां प्रणयभङ्गो न कार्यः । इत्य् उक्तः पुरंजयः प्राह । सकलत्रैलोक्यनाथो यो ऽयं युष्माकम् इन्द्रः शतक्रतुर् अस्य यद्य् अहं स्कन्धारूढो युष्मदरातिभिः सह योत्स्ये तदाहं भवतां सहायः । इत्य् आकर्ण्य समस्तदेवैर् इन्द्रेण च बाढम् इत्य् एवं समन्विच्छितम् ॥
ūcuś cainaṃ | bho bhoḥ kṣatriyavaryāsmābhir abhyarthitena bhavatāsmākam arātivadhodyatānāṃ sāhāyyaṃ kṛtam icchāmaḥ | tad bhavatāsmākam abhyāgatānāṃ praṇayabhaṅgo na kāryaḥ | ity uktaḥ puraṃjayaḥ prāha | sakalatrailokyanātho yo 'yaṃ yuṣmākam indraḥ śatakratur asya yady ahaṃ skandhārūḍho yuṣmadarātibhiḥ saha yotsye tadāhaṃ bhavatāṃ sahāyaḥ | ity ākarṇya samastadevair indreṇa ca bāḍham ity evaṃ samanvicchitam ||
Mereka berkata kepadanya: “Wahai ksatria terbaik, memandangkan kamu telah kami rayu, kami berhasrat agar kamu memberikan bantuan kepada kami yang bersedia untuk membunuh musuh-musuh kami. Oleh itu, bagi kami yang datang kepadamu dengan kepercayaan, janganlah memutuskan ikatan persahabatan.” Demikian disapa, Purañjaya menjawab: “Indra—Śatakratu kamu—adalah penguasa ketiga-tiga dunia. Jika aku, dengan menaiki bahunya, harus bertarung bersama kamu melawan musuh-musuh kamu, maka sesungguhnya aku akan menjadi sekutumu.” Mendengar ini, semua dewa, dan Indra juga, bersetuju, dengan berkata, “Jadilah demikian”—dan dengan demikian perjanjian itu diselesaikan.
First: the gods (Devas) addressing Puraṁjaya; Then: Puraṁjaya replying (reported by the Purāṇic narrator in the larger Parasara→Maitreya frame)
Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas
Concept: A righteous alliance is sealed by trust (praṇaya) and kept by honoring one’s word in service of a larger dharmic cause.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Maintain integrity in commitments; collaborate with rightful authority for protective action rather than ego-driven heroism.
Vishishtadvaita: Cooperation between divine order (devas) and a human king as instrument aligns with the view that souls function as real modes/servants of Bhagavān’s purpose.
Vamsha: Surya
Dharma Exemplar: Friendship/loyalty (praṇaya) and kṣatriya alliance in defense of order
Key Kings: Puranjaya, Indra
Bhakti Type: Dasya
FAQs
It signifies a sanctioned alliance of royal power with divine sovereignty—kṣatriya strength becomes effective when aligned with Indra’s world-ordering authority.
The gods appeal to praṇaya (trusted friendship), implying that refusing aid after accepting a request would be a moral breach; the narrative treats loyalty and protection as dharmic obligations.
Even when gods and kings act, their legitimacy rests on a higher cosmic order; Indra’s ‘lordship of the three worlds’ functions as a visible emblem of that overarching sovereignty ultimately grounded in Purāṇic theism.