Shloka 1
Adhyāya 12: Devas’ Petition to Nahūṣa; Bṛhaspati on Śaraṇāgata-Dharma; Indrāṇī’s Strategic Delay
2 ड-ण का द्वादशोड् ध्याय: देवता-नहुष-संवाद
śalya uvāca | kruddhaṃ tu nahuṣaṃ dṛṣṭvā devā ṛṣipurogamāḥ | abruvan devarājānaṃ nahuṣaṃ ghoradarśanam ||
শল্য বললেন—যুধিষ্ঠির! ক্রোধে উন্মত্ত নহুষকে দেখে দেবতারা ঋষিদের অগ্রে রেখে তাঁর কাছে গেলেন এবং ভয়ংকর দর্শন দেবরাজ নহুষকে বললেন। তখন দেবতা ও ঋষিগণ বললেন—
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power without self-restraint becomes frightening and unstable; therefore the gods seek the guidance and moral authority of sages, implying that righteous counsel (dharma) should govern even the highest sovereignty.
Nahuṣa, acting as devarāja, is seen in a wrathful and fearsome state. The gods, led by the sages, go to him and begin to speak—introducing a dialogue meant to check his conduct and avert the consequences of his anger and arrogance.