Shloka 5
Yuddha-yajña-vyākhyāna (The Battle as Sacrifice): Ambarīṣa–Indra Saṃvāda
स दृष्टवोपरि गच्छन्तं सेनापतिमुदारधी: । ऋद्धि दृष्टवा सुदेवस्य विस्मित: प्राह वासवम्,वह सम्पूर्णत: तेजस्वी, दिव्य एवं श्रेष्ठ विमानपर बैठकर ऊपर-ऊपर चला जा रहा था। अपने शक्तिशाली सेनापतिको अपनेसे भी ऊपर होकर जाते देख सुदेवकी उस समृद्धिका प्रत्यक्ष दर्शन करके उदारबुद्धि राजा अम्बरीष आश्चर्यसे चकित हो उठे और इन्द्रदेवसे बोले
sa dṛṣṭvopari gacchantaṃ senāpatim udāradḥīḥ | ṛddhiṃ dṛṣṭvā sudevasya vismitaḥ prāha vāsavam ||
भीष्म उवाच—स उदारधीः सेनापतिमुपरि गच्छन्तं दृष्ट्वा सुदेवस्य ऋद्धिं च विलोक्य विस्मितो वासवं प्राह।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that genuine eminence is not merely social position but can be revealed through visible signs of merit and divine sanction; witnessing another’s superior ascent provokes inquiry into the ethical and spiritual causes behind such prosperity.
A king (as reflected in the accompanying narrative context) sees a commander moving above him in a radiant divine conveyance and, amazed at Sudeva’s extraordinary fortune, turns to Indra (Vāsava) to ask or comment on what he has witnessed.