Shloka 16
चित्रसेनगन्धर्वैः कौरवसंनिपातः
Citrasena and the Kaurava engagement
इन्द्रत्वे तु स्थितं वीर बलहीनं पराजितम् । आवयोश्व मिथो भेदे प्रयतिष्यन्त्यतन्द्रिता:,इन्द्रने कहा--वीर! तुम्हारा बल अद्भुत है, अतः तुम्हीं देव-शत्रुओंका संहार करो। वीरवर! मैं तुम्हारे सामने पराजित होकर बलहीन सिद्ध हो गया हूँ। अतः तुम्हारे पराक्रमसे चकित होकर लोग मेरी अवहेलना करेंगे। यदि मैं इन्द्र पदपर स्थित रहूँ, तो भी सब लोग मेरा उपहास करेंगे और आलस्य छोड़कर हम दोनोंमें परस्पर फूट डालनेका प्रयत्न करेंगे
indratve tu sthitaṃ vīra balahīnaṃ parājitam | āvayoś ca mitho bhede prayatiṣyanty atandritāḥ ||
Śakra (Indra) disse: “Ó herói, mesmo permanecendo eu estabelecido no posto de Indra, fico vencido e sem vigor. E se houver alguma divisão entre nós dois, as pessoas—lançando fora a indolência—se esforçarão incansavelmente para abrir uma fenda.”
श॒क्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
High office alone does not guarantee true authority; when strength and merit are questioned, reputation becomes vulnerable and others may exploit the situation by sowing division. Ethical leadership requires guarding against factionalism and maintaining unity.
Indra (Śakra) addresses a hero, admitting his own defeat and weakness even while holding the title of Indra, and warns that people will attempt to create a split between them, using rivalry and public ridicule to undermine authority.