Shloka 10
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
गन्धर्वर्भुजगेन्द्रैश्व सिद्धै श्वान्यैर्वुत: प्रभु: । चतुर्दन्तं सुदान्तं च वारणेन्द्रं श्रिया वृतम् । आरुह्ौरावतं शक्रस्त्रैलोक्यमनुसंययौ
gandharva-bhujagendraiś ca siddhaiḥ śvānyair vṛtaḥ prabhuḥ | caturdantaṃ sudāntaṃ ca vāraṇendraṃ śriyā vṛtam | āruhya airāvataṃ śakras trailokyam anusañcayau ||
Bhīṣma disse: «Cercado por Gandharvas, pelos senhores das serpentes, por Siddhas e por outros seres celestes, o poderoso senhor Śakra (Indra) montou Airāvata —rei dos elefantes, ornado com quatro presas esplêndidas, bem adestrado e envolto em majestade divina— e partiu a percorrer os três mundos.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents Indra’s majesty and movement through the three worlds as a symbol of rightful sovereignty: power is shown as ordered, attended by worthy beings, and oriented toward sustaining cosmic and moral order (dharma), not mere display.
Bhīṣma describes Indra, surrounded by celestial attendants (Gandharvas, Nāga-lords, Siddhas, and others), mounting his elephant Airāvata—four-tusked, well-trained, and radiant—and setting out to traverse the three worlds.