Shloka 18
विन्ध्यवृद्धिनिवारणम् — The Restraint of the Vindhya
Agastya’s Injunction
समेत्य समहेन्द्रा श्ष भयान्मन्त्र प्रचक्रिरे शरण्यं शरणं देव॑ नारायणमजं विभुम्
sametya saha-indrāś ca bhayān mantraṁ pracakrire | śaraṇyaṁ śaraṇaṁ devaṁ nārāyaṇam ajaṁ vibhum ||
Nagtipon ang mga diyos; at maging si Indra at ang iba pang mga diyos—dahil sa pangamba—ay nagbalangkas ng isang banal na panukala. Kumupkop sila kay Nārāyaṇa, ang tagapagtanggol na banal, ang Di-Ipinanganak at ang sumasaklaw sa lahat, bilang kanilang sukdulang kanlungan.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
When even the gods are overcome by fear, the highest remedy is śaraṇāgati—taking refuge in the supreme protector. The verse emphasizes Nārāyaṇa as the unborn, all-pervading source of security and right order.
Indra and the other gods, troubled by a fearful situation, assemble and formulate a course of action. Their decisive step is to seek protection and guidance from Nārāyaṇa, acknowledging him as the ultimate refuge.