Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 28
अलंघयदू वै सरितो जिघांसन् शक्रं वज्ं प्रहरन्तं निरास । स महेन्द्र: स्तूयते वै महाध्वरे विप्रैरैको ऋक््सहस: पुराणै:
alaṅghayad ū vai sarito jighāṃsan śakraṃ vajraṃ praharantaṃ nirāsa | sa mahendraḥ stūyate vai mahādhvare viprair eko ṛk-sahasraiḥ purāṇaiḥ ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Sa pagnanais na patayin si Śakra (Indra), nilundag niya ang maraming ilog at itinaboy si Indra habang nakahanda na itong humampas ng vajra (kulog na sandata). Siya ring iyon ang pinupuri bilang Mahendra: sa mga dakilang paghahandog, ang mga Brahmin ay umaawit ng papuri sa kanya lamang sa pamamagitan ng libu-libong sinaunang himno ng Ṛg-veda.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Supreme divinity transcends and governs even the highest gods: the same reality that can thwart Indra’s thunderbolt is also the one praised in Vedic sacrifices. Ethically, it cautions against pride in power and directs reverence toward the ultimate source behind divine authority.
A divine figure (implied as the supreme lord) intends to slay Indra, crosses many rivers in pursuit, and repels Indra when he raises the vajra to strike. Bhīṣma then identifies that very being as ‘Mahendra,’ praised by Brahmins in great sacrifices with thousands of ancient Ṛgvedic hymns.