Shloka 71
Jarītā–Śārṅgā-saṃvāda: Ākhu-haraṇa and the Approach of Agni (आखुहरणं अग्न्यागमनश्च)
एतच्छुत्वा हुतवहाद् भगवान् सर्वलोककृत्,अग्निदेवकी यह बात सुनकर सम्पूर्ण जगतके स्रष्टा भगवान् ब्रह्माजी हव्यवाहन अग्निसे हँसते हुए-से इस प्रकार बोले--“महाभाग! तुमने बारह वर्षोतक वसुधाराकी आहुतिके रूपमें प्राप्त हुई घृतधाराका उपभोग किया है। इसीलिये तुम्हें ग्लानि प्राप्त हुई है। हव्यवाहन! तेजसे हीन होनेके कारण तुम्हें सहसा अपने मनमें ग्लानि नहीं आने देनी चाहिये। वहने! तुम फिर पूर्ववत् स्वस्थ हो जाओगे। मैं समय पाकर तुम्हारी अरुचि नष्ट कर दूँगा
etac chrutvā hutavahād bhagavān sarvalokakṛt brahmā havyavāhanam agnim hasann iva idam abravīt— “mahābhāga! tvayā dvādaśa-varṣāṇi vasudhārāyā āhutirūpeṇa prāptā ghṛtadhārā bhuktā; tasmāt te glānir jāyate. havyavāhana! tejasā hīnasya sahasā manasi glānim ānetuṃ na yuktam. vahne! tvaṃ punaḥ pūrvavat svastho bhaviṣyasi. ahaṃ kālaṃ prāpya tava aruciṃ nāśayiṣyāmi.”
Vaiśampāyana said: Hearing this, the blessed Brahmā, creator of all worlds, spoke to Agni, the bearer of oblations, as if with a smile: “Fortunate one, for twelve years you have consumed the streams of ghee that came to you as offerings in the Vasudhārā rite; therefore this weariness has arisen in you. O Havyavāhana, your radiance being diminished, do not suddenly let dejection seize your mind. O Vahni, you will become well again as before. When the proper time comes, I shall remove your aversion.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a powerful being can experience fatigue when its natural vigor is diminished; one should not surrender to sudden dejection. With right timing and guidance, imbalance (aversion, weakness) can be removed and one can return to one’s proper function.
Brahmā addresses Agni, explaining that Agni’s weariness and aversion arise from long consumption of ghee offered in the Vasudhārā rite. Brahmā reassures him that he will recover and promises to eliminate the aversion at the appropriate time.