Shloka 16
नहुषोपाख्यानम्—दीपदान-धूप-बलीकर्म-प्रशंसा
Nahūṣa Episode and the Commendation of Lamp-Gifting and Household Offerings
निमीलय स्वनयने जटां यावद् विशामि ते । स्थाणुभूतस्य तस्याथ जटां प्राविशदच्युत:
nimīlaya svanayane jaṭāṁ yāvad viśāmi te | sthāṇubhūtasya tasyātha jaṭāṁ prāviśad acyutaḥ ||
ভৃগু বললেন—“মুনে, আমি যতক্ষণ তোমার জটায় প্রবেশ করি, ততক্ষণ তুমি তোমার দুই চোখ বন্ধ করো।” তখন অগস্ত্য চোখ বন্ধ করে স্তম্ভের মতো স্থির হয়ে দাঁড়ালেন; আর মর্যাদা-অচ্যুত ভৃগু তাঁর জটায় প্রবেশ করলেন।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power without humility turns into adharma: the king’s desire to use a rishi as a mere bearer signals arrogance, and the narrative frames such overreach as a cause of inevitable downfall, while ascetic restraint and steadfast adherence to propriety remain the ethical ideal.
A sage is asked to close his eyes so another can enter his matted locks; the sage becomes motionless like a pillar. At that moment King Nahusha arrives, intending to make the rishi his vehicle, setting up the conflict that leads to Nahusha’s humiliation and fall.