Shloka 20
Dhūpa–Dīpa–Bali Phala Praśna; Nahūṣa–Agastya–Bhṛgu Saṃvāda
Incense, Lamp, and Bali Offerings; the Nahūṣa Dialogue
प्रायच्छत वरं देव: प्रजानां दुःखकारणम् । द्विजेष्वधर्मयुक्तानि स करोति नराधम:
prāyacchata varaṃ devaḥ prajānāṃ duḥkha-kāraṇam | dvijeṣv adharma-yuktāni sa karoti narādhamaḥ ||
দেবতা ব্রহ্মা যে বর তাকে দিয়েছিলেন, সেটাই প্রজাদের দুঃখের কারণ হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছে। সেই অধম ব্যক্তি এখন দ্বিজদের (ব্রাহ্মণদের) প্রতি অধর্মযুক্ত আচরণ করছে।
अगस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A boon or power is not inherently beneficial; when wielded without dharma it turns into a cause of public suffering. Ethical conduct—especially restraint and proper regard for the twice-born and social norms—is presented as the true measure of worth.
Agastya is describing a person who, despite having received a divine boon, has become oppressive to the people and is acting unrighteously toward Brahmins. The verse frames this as moral degeneration: divine favor has been misused, producing harm and adharma.