Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 16
Vivāha-dharma: Kanyā-pradāna, Śulka, and Pāṇigrahaṇa-niṣṭhā (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४४)
पुरन्दरश्न तत्रस्थो बभूव विमना भृशम् | स तद्वैकृतमालक्ष्य देवराजो विशाम्पते
Purandaraś ca tatrastho babhūva vimanā bhṛśam | sa tad-vaikṛtam ālakṣya devarājo viśāmpate sahasranetro divya-dṛṣṭyā tasyābhimukhaṃ dadarśa | tataḥ śarīrāntar-gataṃ vipulaṃ muniparam asya dṛṣṭiḥ samapadyata |
Sinabi ni Bhishma: Si Indra (Purandara), na nakatayo roon, ay labis na nanlumo nang marinig ang mga salitang iyon. O panginoon ng mga tao! Nang mapansin niya ang pagbabago sa kalooban at ang pagkaligalig ng isip, si Indra—ang haring may sanlibong mata sa mga diyos—ay tumingin sa kanya sa pamamagitan ng banal na paningin. At doon, nakita ng kanyang titig ang isang dakila at marangal na muni na nananahan sa loob ng katawan na iyon.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical discernment: outward demeanor can conceal deeper realities, and true judgment requires insight into inner states. Indra’s divine sight symbolizes the need to look beyond surface reactions and perceive the hidden presence of virtue or spiritual power.
Indra, hearing a prior statement, becomes deeply troubled. Observing a visible change in the other person’s mental condition, he uses divine vision to examine the situation and then perceives a great sage residing within that person’s body, indicating a concealed spiritual presence influencing events.