Shloka 19
Marutta’s Sacrifice: Indra’s Threat, Saṃvarta’s Mantric Restraint, and Divine Reconciliation (अध्याय १०)
संवर्त उवाच अयमिन्द्रो हरिभिरायाति राजन् देवै: सर्वैस्त्वरितै: स्तूयमान: । मन्त्राहूतो यज्ञमिमं मयाद्य पश्यस्वैनं मन्त्रविस्रस्तकायम्,(तदनन्तर संवर्तने अपने मन्त्रबलसे सम्पूर्ण देवताओंका आवाहन किया और) मरुत्तसे कहा--राजन! ये इन्द्र सम्पूर्ण देवताओंके द्वारा अपनी स्तुति सुनते शीघ्रगामी अश्वोंसे युक्त रथकी सवारीसे आ रहे हैं। मैंने मनत्रबलसे आज इस यज्ञमें इनका आवाहन किया है। देखो, मन्त्रशक्तिसे इनका शरीर इधर खिंचता चला आ रहा है
Saṁvarta uvāca: ayam indro haribhir āyāti rājan devaiḥ sarvais tvaritaiḥ stūyamānaḥ | mantrāhūto yajñam imaṁ mayādya paśyāsainaṁ mantravistrastakāyam ||
Saṃvarta disse: “Ó Rei, eis que Indra vem, puxado por seus corcéis fulvos, enquanto todos os deuses—apressados—o louvam. Por mantra eu o convoquei hoje a este sacrifício. Olha para ele: pela força do mantra, o próprio corpo dele está sendo compelido e atraído para este rito.”
संवर्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the perceived efficacy and responsibility of Vedic ritual: mantra and properly conducted sacrifice are portrayed as forces that can obligate even the gods to attend. Ethically, it underscores the seriousness of ritual power—when wielded by a competent priest/ascetic, it is not mere praise but a binding summons within the dharmic order.
Saṁvarta tells King Marutta that Indra is approaching the sacrifice in his chariot drawn by tawny steeds, praised by all the gods. Saṁvarta claims he has invoked Indra by mantra for this very yajña, and urges the king to witness Indra being drawn toward the rite by the force of that invocation.