Shloka 5
Nahūṣa’s Fall Explained: Agastya’s Account to Indra (Śalya-narrated)
शल्य उवाच पूजितं चोपविष्टं तमासने मुनिसत्तमम् | पर्यपृच्छत देवेश: प्रहृष्टो ब्राह्मणर्षभम्
śalya uvāca pūjitaṃ copaviṣṭaṃ tam āsane munisattamam | paryapṛcchata deveśaḥ prahṛṣṭo brāhmaṇarṣabham |
শল্য বললেন—মুনিশ্রেষ্ঠকে যথাবিধি পূজা করে উপযুক্ত আসনে বসিয়ে দেবেশ্বর ইন্দ্র অন্তরে প্রফুল্ল হয়ে ব্রাহ্মণশ্রেষ্ঠকে প্রশ্ন করলেন।
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic conduct in seeking guidance: one should first honour the wise with proper reception and seating, and only then inquire respectfully. Reverence and humility are presented as prerequisites for receiving sound counsel.
A foremost sage has arrived or is present; he is welcomed, honoured, and seated. Then a lordly figure (addressed as deveśa) joyfully begins to question the eminent Brahmin-sage, setting up a dialogue of counsel.