Shloka 17
इन्द्र रवाच अस्माभिरननिन्दितावेतौ भवेतां सोमपौ कथम् | देवैर्न सम्मितावेतौ तस्मान्मैवं वदस्व न:
indra uvāca—asmābhir ananinditāv etau bhavetāṃ somapau katham | devair na sammitāv etau tasmān maivaṃ vadasva naḥ ||
اندر نے کہا—“اے بے عیب برہمن! ان دونوں کو ہم نے ملامت کی ہے؛ پھر یہ سوم پینے کے حق دار کیسے ہو سکتے ہیں؟ یہ دونوں دیوتاؤں کے برابر مرتبہ نہیں رکھتے؛ اس لیے ان کے لیے ہم سے اس طرح کی بات نہ کہو۔”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the idea of adhikāra (eligibility) in ritual contexts and how social/divine recognition and perceived merit can be invoked to accept or deny participation. It also shows the ethical weight of speech—Indra asks the interlocutor not to press a claim in a way that challenges established status.
Within Bhīṣma’s narration, Indra is quoted objecting to the Aśvinīkumāras being granted Soma-drinking rights. He argues that since they have been censured and are not regarded as equal to the other gods, they should not be proposed as Soma-drinkers.