Adhyāya 12: Devas’ Petition to Nahūṣa; Bṛhaspati on Śaraṇāgata-Dharma; Indrāṇī’s Strategic Delay
निवर्तय मन: पापात् परदाराभिमर्शनात् | देवराजो5सि भद्ठं ते प्रजा धर्मेण पालय
nivartaya manaḥ pāpāt paradārābhimarśanāt | devarājo 'si bhadraṃ te prajā dharmeṇa pālaya ||
পরস্ত্রীর স্পর্শ ও অনুসরণ পাপ; সেখান থেকে মন ফিরিয়ে নিন। আপনি দেবরাজ—আপনার মঙ্গল হোক। ধর্মের পথে প্রজাকে পালন ও রক্ষা করুন।
शल्य उवाच
The verse teaches self-restraint and sexual ethics: approaching or touching another man’s wife is sinful, and a ruler—especially one as eminent as the king of the gods—must turn away from such conduct and uphold dharma through righteous governance.
Śalya addresses a figure identified as Devarāja (Indra), warning him against the sin of engaging with another’s wife and redirecting him toward his proper royal duty: protecting and ruling his subjects in accordance with dharma.