Shloka 18
Nāga-prādhānya-nāma-kathana
Principal Nāga Names Enumerated
अयमिन्द्रस्त्रिभुवने नियोगाद् ब्रह्मण: कृत: । इन्द्रार्थे च भवन्तो5पि यत्नवन्तस्तपोधना:,“तपोधनो! ब्रह्माजीकी आज्ञासे ये पुरन्दर तीनों लोकोंके इन्द्र बनाये गये हैं और आपलोग भी दूसरे इन्द्रकी उत्पत्तिके लिये प्रयत्नशील हैं
śaunaka uvāca |
ayam indras tribhuvane niyogād brahmaṇaḥ kṛtaḥ |
indrārthe ca bhavanto 'pi yatnavantas tapodhanāḥ |
โอผู้มั่งคั่งด้วยตบะทั้งหลาย! พระอินทร์องค์นี้ได้รับแต่งตั้งให้เป็นเจ้าแห่งไตรภพตามบัญชาพระพรหม และท่านทั้งหลายก็ยังเพียรพยายามเพื่อให้มีพระอินทร์องค์อื่นอีก
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that cosmic rulership (like Indra’s sovereignty) is not merely won by power but is established through higher ordinance—Brahmā’s appointment—while also acknowledging the role of disciplined effort (tapas and striving) in bringing about such outcomes.
Śaunaka addresses ascetics, pointing out that the current Indra has been installed by Brahmā’s command as ruler of the three worlds, and that these tapas-rich sages are themselves exerting effort toward the emergence/establishment of another Indra (i.e., a successor or rival claimant to the Indra-status).