Shloka 5
Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)
इन्द्रो ज्ञात्वा तु तं यज्ञ महाभाग: सुरेश्वर: । अन्तरं तस्य राजर्षेरन्विच्छन्नियतात्मन:,महाभाग देवराज इन्द्रकों जब उस यज्ञकी बात मालूम हुई तब वे मनको वशमें रखनेवाले राजर्षि भंगास्वनका छिठ्र ढूँढ़ने लगे
Indro jñātvā tu taṃ yajñaṃ mahābhāgaḥ sureśvaraḥ | antaraṃ tasya rājarṣer anvicchann niyatātmanaḥ ||
इन्द्रो ज्ञात्वा तु तं यज्ञं महाभागः सुरेश्वरः। अन्तरं तस्य राजर्षेरन्विच्छन्नियतात्मनः॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that true virtue is not merely performing great rites but maintaining integrity and self-control when subjected to scrutiny and temptation; even divine powers may test a person’s steadiness, so dharma must be inwardly firm, not only outwardly splendid.
Indra learns about a particular sacrifice being performed by a self-controlled royal sage and, feeling challenged or concerned, begins searching for an ‘antara’—a weakness or loophole—through which the sage’s undertaking might be disrupted or exposed.