Shloka 2
प्रलय-प्रक्रिया (Pralaya Process) — Guṇa-Withdrawal and Pratisaṃcara
तां दृष्टवा प्रभया दीप्तां भगवान् पाकशासन: । विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयनो बलिं पप्रच्छ वासव:,पाकशासन भगवान् इन्द्र प्रभासे प्रकाशित होनेवाली उस लक्ष्मीको देखकर आश्चर्यचकित हो उठे। उनके नेत्र विस्मयसे खिल उठे। उन्होंने बलिसे पूछा
tāṃ dṛṣṭvā prabhayā dīptāṃ bhagavān pākaśāsanaḥ | vismayotphullanayano baliṃ papraccha vāsavaḥ ||
Bhīṣma disse: Ao ver Śrī (Lakṣmī) radiante, ardendo com o próprio esplendor, Indra — o castigador de Pāka — ficou tomado de assombro. Seus olhos se arregalaram, e Vāsava (Indra) perguntou a Bali.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up a reflection on the nature of Śrī (fortune, sovereignty, prosperity): her appearance and movement provoke inquiry even in Indra, implying that power and prosperity are not fixed possessions but contingent, ethically charged forces that shift according to dharma and conduct.
Indra sees a brilliantly radiant Śrī/Lakṣmī and is astonished; with eyes widened in wonder, he turns to Bali and asks him about her—introducing a dialogue in which Bali becomes the one questioned, and the meaning of Śrī’s presence is to be explained.