Shloka 1
नहुषोपाख्यानम्—दीपदान-धूप-बलीकर्म-प्रशंसा
Nahūṣa Episode and the Commendation of Lamp-Gifting and Household Offerings
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्ाभारत अनुशासनपर्वके अंतर्गत दानधर्मपर्वमें अगस्त्य और भ्रगुका संवादनामक निन्यानबेवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ ॥/ ९९ ॥। ऑपन--माजल छा अफ<-जआकऋा-ज शततमो< ध्याय: नहुषका पतन
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: kathaṃ vai sa vipannaḥ kathaṃ vai pātito bhuvi | kathaṃ cānindratāṃ prāptas tad bhavān vaktum arhati ||
Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „Wie geriet er ins Unheil? Wie wurde er zur Erde hinabgestürzt? Und wie kam es, dass er die Würde Indras verlor? Sei so gütig und erkläre mir dies.“
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic inquiry into the causes of a ruler’s downfall—misfortune and loss of sovereignty are treated as morally intelligible events, inviting reflection on conduct (especially pride and misuse of power) and its consequences.
Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully asks the elder (Bhīṣma) to narrate how King Nahuṣa came to ruin, was cast down to earth, and lost the position of Indra—introducing the episode that explains Nahuṣa’s fall.