Shloka 3
Adhyāya 223: Nāradasya Guṇa-kathana
Catalogue of Nārada’s Virtues
पितामहमुपागम्य प्रणिपत्य कृताउज्जलि: । सवनिवासुरान् जित्वा बलिं पप्रच्छ वासव:
pitāmaham upāgamya praṇipatya kṛtāñjaliḥ | sa-vanivāsurān jitvā baliṁ papraccha vāsavaḥ ||
सवनिवासुरान् जित्वा वासवः पितामहमुपागम्य प्रणिपत्य कृताञ्जलिः पप्रच्छ—“भगवन्, बलिः कुत्र निवसति?”॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even after success, one should remain humble and seek guidance from a higher, wiser authority. Indra’s folded-hands inquiry to Brahmā models disciplined victory—power tempered by reverence and the pursuit of right knowledge.
Indra, having defeated the Asuras, goes to Brahmā (the Pitāmaha) and respectfully asks where Bali is residing. The verse sets up a consultation with Brahmā about Bali’s whereabouts and, implicitly, about the proper course of action after victory.