Nahūṣa’s Pride, the Ṛṣi-Borne Palanquin, and the Search for Indra (नहुष-इन्द्राणी-प्रकरणम्)
अग्निरवाच नाप: प्रवेष्ठुं शक्ष्यामि क्षयो मे5त्र भविष्यति । शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नो5स्मि स्वस्ति ते5स्तु महाद्युते
agnir uvāca nāpaḥ praveṣṭuṁ śakṣyāmi kṣayo me ’tra bhaviṣyati | śaraṇaṁ tvāṁ prapanno ’smi svasti te ’stu mahādyute ||
অগ্নিয়ে ক’লে— “মই জলৈ প্ৰৱেশ কৰিব নোৱাৰোঁ; তাত মোৰ বিনাশ হ’ব। মই আপোনাৰ শৰণ লৈছোঁ। হে মহাদ্যুতি, আপোনাৰ মঙ্গল হওক।”
शल्य उवाच
Even a powerful being acknowledges limits and seeks rightful protection; taking refuge (śaraṇa) and offering auspicious goodwill (svasti) are presented as ethically proper responses in danger rather than reckless self-destruction.
Agni speaks, declaring that entering the waters would cause his ruin; therefore he approaches another as a protector, formally surrendering for refuge and concluding with a blessing to the radiant addressee.