Shloka 24
अग्निस्तुति, इन्द्रदर्शन, नहुष-भयवर्णन
Agni-hymn, discovery of Indra, and the Nahuṣa threat
गत्वाब्रुवन् नहुषं तत्र शक्र त्वं नो राजा भव भुवनस्य गोप्ता । तानब्रवीन्नहुषो नास्मि शक्त आप्यायध्वं तपसा तेजसा माम्
gatvābruvan nahuṣaṃ tatra śakra tvaṃ no rājā bhava bhuvanasya goptā | tān abravīn nahuṣo nāsmi śakta āpyāyadhvaṃ tapasā tejasā mām ||
قال إندرا: لما ذهبوا إلى هناك خاطبوا نَهُوشا قائلين: «يا شَكرا (Śakra)، كن ملكَنا وحاميَ العالم.» فلما سمعهم نهوشا قال: «لستُ قادراً (على أن أكون إندرا). فقوّوني وامدّوني بالقدرة بتقشّفكم (tapas) وببهائكم الروحي (tejas).»
इन्द्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Authority is not merely conferred by request or crisis; it must be supported by inner qualification. Nahusha’s refusal without tapas and tejas underscores that rulership (as guardianship of the world) demands earned spiritual and moral potency, not only external endorsement.
After Indra withdraws, the gods and allied beings seek a replacement to stabilize cosmic governance. They approach King Nahusha and ask him to become their ruler and protector. Nahusha replies that he lacks the capacity and asks them to empower him through their austerity and radiance.