Shloka 22

Parāśara’s Counsel on बुद्धि (Discernment), Karma-Consequences, and Avoidance of Pāpānubandha Actions

Devanagari script

वसिष्ठ उवाच देवश्रेष्ठो$सि देवेन्द्र दैत्यासुरनिबर्हण । त्रैलोक्यबलसंयुक्त: कस्माच्छक्र विषीदसि,वसिष्ठजीने कहा--देवेन्द्र! तुम सब देवताओंमें श्रेष्ठ हो। दैत्यों तथा असुरोंका संहार करनेवाले शक्र! तुम तो त्रिलोकीके बलसे सम्पन्न हो; फिर इस प्रकार विषादमें क्‍यों पड़े हो?

Transliteration

Vasiṣṭha uvāca: devaśreṣṭho 'si devendra daityāsura-nibarhaṇa | trailokya-bala-saṁyuktaḥ kasmāc chakra viṣīdasi ||

Translation

وسِشٹھ نے کہا—اے دیویندر! تو دیوتاؤں میں سب سے برتر ہے، دَیتیہ اور اسُر کا قلع قمع کرنے والا ہے۔ تینوں لوکوں کی قوت سے آراستہ ہو کر بھی، اے شکر! تو کیوں افسردہ ہے؟

Word by Word

वसिष्ठःVasiṣṭha

उवाचsaid

देवश्रेष्ठःbest among the gods

असिyou are

देवेन्द्रO lord of the gods (Indra)

दैत्यासुरनिबर्हणO destroyer of Daityas and Asuras

त्रैलोक्यबलसंयुक्तःendowed with the strength of the three worlds

कस्मात्why? / from what cause?

शक्रO Śakra (Indra)

विषीदसिyou grieve / are despondent

Speaker

वसिष्ठ उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vasiṣṭha

Indra

Śakra

Devas

Dāityas

Asuras

Trailokya (three worlds)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A leader renowned for power and past victories should not succumb to despair; inner steadiness and confidence in one’s rightful strength are ethical necessities for sustaining dharma and protecting the world.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vasiṣṭha addresses Indra (Śakra), reminding him of his status as chief of the gods and destroyer of demonic foes, and challenges him to explain why he is grieving despite being supported by the power of the three worlds.