Shloka 12
Nahūṣa’s Pride, the Ṛṣi-Borne Palanquin, and the Search for Indra (नहुष-इन्द्राणी-प्रकरणम्)
इच्छाम्यहमथापूर्व वाहनं ते सुराधिप । यन्न विष्णोर्न रुद्रस्य नासुराणां न रक्षसाम्
icchāmy aham athāpūrva vāhanaṁ te surādhipa | yan na viṣṇor na rudrasya nāsurāṇāṁ na rakṣasām, sureśvara ||
沙利耶说道：“诸天之主啊，我愿你得一乘前所未有的座驾——不同于往昔诸位因陀罗所用的象、马与战车。愿你的乘具全然卓绝：毗湿奴与鲁陀罗未曾用过，阿修罗与罗刹亦未曾用过。”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the cultural and ethical idea that true eminence seeks what is uniquely fitting and uncontaminated by prior claim—symbolized by a never-before-used vāhana. It reflects how status and responsibility are expressed through distinctive, appropriate insignia rather than mere imitation.
Śalya addresses Indra and expresses a wish to provide (or see provided) an extraordinary vehicle for him—one unlike the customary mounts of earlier Indras and not used even by major gods or demonic beings—emphasizing Indra’s singular preeminence.