Shloka 1
कालनिर्णयः, युगधर्मवर्णनम्, सृष्टिक्रमश्च
Time-Reckoning, Yuga-Dharma, and the Sequence of Creation
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके २ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ३२ श्लोक हैं) अपन प्रात बछ। अर: - शम्याक्षेप कहते हैं शम्यापातको। “शम्या” एक ऐसे काठके डंडेको कहते हैं
bhīṣma uvāca | punar eva tu taṃ śakraḥ prahasann idam abravīt | niḥśvasantaṃ yathā nāgaṃ pravyāhārāya bhārata ||
Sinabi ni Bhishma: O Bharata, pagkaraan niyon, si Indra (Shakra), na nakangiting wari’y ipinakikita ang sariling kataasan, ay muling nagsalita kay Bali—na sumisingasing na parang ahas, humihinga nang mabigat sa galit at naghahandang tumugon. Itinatanghal ng tagpong ito ang tunggaliang moral: pagmamataas at pang-uudyok sa isang panig, at sa kabila’y ang pigil ngunit makapangyarihang pagtindig sa katotohanan at sa lakas ng Panahon.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up an ethical contrast: Indra’s smiling assertion of superiority versus Bali’s controlled but intense readiness to answer. In the larger dialogue, this becomes a lesson on how pride and status are unstable before Kāla (Time), and how true strength lies in insight and restraint rather than mere dominance.
Bhishma narrates to Yudhiṣṭhira: after Bali’s earlier words, Indra again addresses Bali. Bali is described as hissing like a serpent—agitated and about to respond—while Indra speaks with a smile, suggesting provocation or self-display, thereby intensifying the debate.