Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
देवशर्मोवाच बहुमाय: स विप्रर्षे भगवान् पाकशासन: । तांस्तान् विकुरुते भावान् बहूनथ मुहुर्मुहु:
devadharma uvāca bahumāyaḥ sa viprarṣe bhagavān pākaśāsanaḥ | tāṁs tān vikurute bhāvān bahūn atha muhur muhuḥ ||
Sinabi ni Devadharma: “O brahmarṣi, ang pinagpalang si Pākaśāsana (Indra) ay bihasa sa maraming uri ng māyā (kamangha-manghang kapangyarihan). Paulit-ulit niyang binabago ang sarili, nag-aanyong iba’t ibang kalagayan at anyo, at muling nagbabagong-anyo nang walang tigil.”
भीष्म उवाच
The verse highlights Indra’s mastery of māyā—his capacity to assume many forms and conditions repeatedly—implying that divine beings can operate through shifting appearances; therefore one should not judge reality or dharma solely by outward form.
A speaker identified here as Devadharma addresses a brahmarṣi and describes Indra (Pākaśāsana) as one who repeatedly changes into many manifestations, emphasizing his wondrous, transformative power.