Shloka 117
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
तमेवमुक्त्वा भगवाउछतक्रतु:ः प्रतिप्रयातों गजराजवाहन: । विजित्य सर्वानसुरान् सुराधिपो ननन्द हर्षेण बभूव चैकराट्
tam evam uktvā bhagavān śatakratuḥ pratiprayāto gajarāja-vāhanaḥ | vijitya sarvān asurān surādhipo nananda harṣeṇa babhūva ca ekarāṭ ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Pagkasabi nito, ang pinagpalang Śatakratu (Indra), na nakasakay sa hari ng mga elepante, ay lumisan at nagbalik sa sarili niyang tahanan. Matapos daigin ang lahat ng mga Asura, siya’y matatag na naitatag sa luklukan bilang panginoon ng mga diyos; at bilang nag-iisang walang kapantay na naghahari, siya’y nagalak, puspos ng pagdiriwang.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical ideal that rightful authority and social-cosmic order are restored when disruptive forces are overcome; legitimate sovereignty, once re-established, brings stability and rightful joy rather than mere personal triumph.
After addressing Bali (implied by context), Indra—mounted on Airāvata—returns to his own realm. Having defeated the Asuras, he is reinstated as lord of the gods and rejoices as an undisputed sovereign.