Shloka 10
Marutta’s Sacrifice: Indra’s Threat, Saṃvarta’s Mantric Restraint, and Divine Reconciliation (अध्याय १०)
मरुत्त उवाच इममात्मानं प्लवमानमारा- दध्वा दूरं तेन न दृश्यतेड्द्य । प्रपद्ये5हं शर्म विप्रेन्द्र त्वत्तः प्रयच्छ तस्मादभयं विप्रमुख्य
marutta uvāca | imam ātmānaṁ plavamānam ārād dadhvā dūraṁ tena na dṛśyate ’dya | prapadye ’haṁ śarma viprendra tvattaḥ prayaccha tasmād abhayaṁ vipramukhya ||
Sinabi ni Marutta: “Inilagay ni Indra ang sarili niya sa malayo at ngayo’y sumusugod mula sa malayo; nakatayo siya sa malayong landas kaya’t hindi nakikita ngayon ang kanyang katawan. O pinakamainam sa mga brahmin, sa iyo ako kumakanlong—ipagkaloob mo ang pag-iingat mula sa iyong panig; kaya ipagkaloob mo sa akin ang kawalang-takot. Masdan: dumarating si Indra na may tangan na vajra, nililiwanagan ang sampung dako; sa kanyang nakapangingilabot at di-makamundong ungol na tila leon, nanginginig ang lahat ng nagtitipon sa aming bulwagan ng paghahandog.”
मरुत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
When confronted by overwhelming power and fear, one should seek rightful refuge (śaraṇāgati) in a protector grounded in dharma; the gift of ‘abhaya’ (fearlessness) is presented as a moral duty of the capable guardian, especially in the context of safeguarding a righteous rite.
King Marutta, conducting a sacrifice, perceives Indra attacking from a hidden distance and approaching with terrifying force. Alarmed, he turns to the foremost brahmin present (the ritual authority) and asks for protection and a formal assurance of safety for himself and the sacrificial assembly.