Shloka 14
गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel
सुन्दोपसुन्दावसुरौ क्रिययैव निषूदितौ | क्रियाभ्युपायैरिन्द्रेण त्रिदिवं भुज्यते विभो
sundopasundāvasurau kriyayaiva niṣūditau | kriyābhyupāyairindreṇa tridivaṁ bhujyate vibho prabho |
风神伐由说道：“阿修罗兄弟孙陀与优婆孙陀，唯因谋略之行而被诛。诚然，凭借切实而周密的手段，因陀罗得以享有并维系天界的主权。故而，伟大的主宰啊，取胜与守国并非只靠蛮力，而在于聪慧而及时的行动。”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective outcomes—victory, protection, and stable rule—often depend on kriyā (well-executed action) and upāya (skillful means), not on brute force alone. The verse highlights an ethical-political lesson: intelligent strategy, when aligned with rightful aims, is a legitimate instrument of governance.
Vāyu addresses a powerful lord and cites a precedent: the asura brothers Sunda and Upasunda were eliminated through strategic action, and Indra continues to enjoy sovereignty in heaven through practical measures. The statement functions as counsel, urging reliance on effective, action-oriented stratagems.