Shloka 18

विन्ध्यवृद्धिनिवारणम् — The Restraint of the Vindhya

Agastya’s Injunction

Devanagari script

समेत्य समहेन्द्रा श्ष भयान्मन्त्र प्रचक्रिरे शरण्यं शरणं देव॑ नारायणमजं विभुम्‌

Transliteration

sametya saha-indrāś ca bhayān mantraṁ pracakrire | śaraṇyaṁ śaraṇaṁ devaṁ nārāyaṇam ajaṁ vibhum ||

Translation

Собравшись вместе, и даже Индра с прочими богами — устрашённые страхом — составили священный замысел. Они прибегли к Нараяне, божественному защитнику, Нерождённому и всепроникающему Владыке, как к высшему прибежищу.

Word by Word

समेत्यhaving assembled/coming together

समहेन्द्राःthe Indras together (i.e., the gods headed by Indra)

भयात्from fear

मन्त्रंa counsel/plan

प्रचक्रिरेthey devised/formed

शरण्यम्the refuge-giving (one), worthy of refuge

शरणम्refuge

देवम्the god

नारायणम्Nārāyaṇa

अजम्unborn

विभुम्all-pervading, mighty

Speaker

लोगश उवाच

Characters & Entities

Indra

Devas (gods)

Nārāyaṇa

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When even the gods are overcome by fear, the highest remedy is śaraṇāgati—taking refuge in the supreme protector. The verse emphasizes Nārāyaṇa as the unborn, all-pervading source of security and right order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra and the other gods, troubled by a fearful situation, assemble and formulate a course of action. Their decisive step is to seek protection and guidance from Nārāyaṇa, acknowledging him as the ultimate refuge.