Shloka 38

Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)

Devanagari script

वायुभूतश्न स पुनर्देवराजो भवत्युत । एवं रूपाणि सततं कुरुते पाकशासन:,फिर वे वायुरूप होकर तुरंत ही देवराजके रूपमें प्रकट हो जाते हैं। इस तरह पाकशासन इन्द्र सदा नये-नये रूप धारण करता और बदलता रहता है

Transliteration

vāyubhūtaś ca sa punar devarājo bhavaty uta | evaṁ rūpāṇi satataṁ kurute pākaśāsanaḥ ||

Translation

అతడు వాయురూపుడై మళ్లీ వెంటనే దేవరాజుగా అవతరిస్తాడు. ఈ విధంగా పాకశాసనుడు ఇంద్రుడు నిరంతరం నూతన నూతన రూపాలను ధరిస్తూ మారుతూ ఉంటాడు.

Word by Word

वायुभूतःhaving become (in the form of) wind

सःhe

पुनःagain

देवराजःking of the gods (Indra)

भवतिbecomes

उतand/also (indeed)

एवम्thus

रूपाणिforms

सततम्constantly

कुरुतेassumes/makes (for himself)

पाकशासनःPākashāsana (Indra)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Indra

Pāka (as referenced in the epithet Pākaśāsana)

Vāyu (wind, as a form)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the idea of adaptive power: Indra’s sovereignty is shown through his ability to assume multiple forms. Ethically, it can be read as a reminder that effective protection and governance may require flexibility and timely transformation rather than rigid self-presentation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes Indra’s shape-shifting: he becomes wind and then immediately manifests again as the king of the gods. The statement presents Indra as continually taking on new appearances.