Shloka 128
Dhaumya’s Enumeration of Eastern Tīrthas
Prācī-diś Tīrtha-kathana
यथा च वृत्रहा सर्वान् सपत्नान् निर्दहन् पुरा । त्रैलोक्यं पालयामास देवराड् विगतज्वर:,महाराज! जैसे मनु, जैसे इक्ष्वाकु, जैसे महायशस्वी पूरु और जैसे वेननन्दन पृथु हो गये हैं वैसी ही तुम्हारी भी ख्याति है। पूर्वकालमें वृत्रासुरविनाशक देवराज इन्द्रने जैसे सब शत्रुओंका संहार करते हुए निश्चिन्त होकर तीनों लोकोंका पालन किया था, उसी प्रकार तुम भी शत्रुओंका नाश करके प्रजाका पालन करोगे। कमलनयन नरेश! तुम अपने धर्मसे जीती हुई पृथ्वीपर अधिकार प्राप्त करके स्वधर्मपालनद्वारा कार्तवीर्य अर्जुनके समान विख्यात होओगे
yathā ca vṛtrahā sarvān sapatnān nirdahan purā | trailokyaṃ pālayāmāsa devarāḍ vigatajvaraḥ ||
Nārada disse: “Assim como, outrora, Indra—o matador de Vṛtra—incinerou todos os seus rivais inimigos e, sem ansiedade, salvaguardou os três mundos, assim também tu, após destruir teus adversários, protegerás teus súditos. Tendo conquistado a terra pela retidão e governando de acordo com o teu próprio dharma, tornar-te-ás afamado.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should remove threats to social order and then govern without personal agitation, protecting the people and the realm through steadfast adherence to dharma—modeled here by Indra’s ideal of decisive victory followed by calm, responsible guardianship.
Nārada praises and encourages the king by invoking Indra’s ancient deed: after destroying his adversaries (as Vṛtra’s slayer), Indra ruled the three worlds free from anxiety. The comparison functions as a prophecy and exhortation that the king will likewise defeat enemies and protect his subjects through righteous rule.