Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 33
Indra Slays Namuci—The Limits of Power and the Triumph of Divine Strategy
तस्मादिन्द्रोऽबिभेच्छत्रोर्वज्र: प्रतिहतो यत: । किमिदं दैवयोगेन भूतं लोकविमोहनम् ॥ ३३ ॥
tasmād indro ’bibhec chatror vajraḥ pratihato yataḥ kim idaṁ daiva-yogena bhūtaṁ loka-vimohanam
Quando Indra viu o vajra ser rechaçado pelo inimigo e voltar, ficou tomado de medo. Começou a indagar se aquilo ocorrera por algum desígnio divino, um prodígio que confunde os mundos.
Indra’s thunderbolt is invincible, and therefore when Indra saw that it had returned without doing any injury to Namuci, he was certainly very much afraid.
FAQs
This verse shows that even Indra’s famed thunderbolt can be rendered ineffective by daiva-yoga—an overriding divine arrangement—so outcomes are not solely determined by strength or weapons.
Indra’s confidence rested on the vajra’s invincibility; when it was checked, he recognized an extraordinary, providential factor at work and feared his enemy’s unexpected advantage.
When plans fail despite competence, this verse advises humility and reflection—recognizing higher factors beyond control and responding with steadiness rather than panic.