Shloka 3
अग्निभय-प्रसङ्गे मन्दपालस्य शोकः
Mandapāla’s Lament amid the Threat of Fire
तमब्रवीद् धूमकेतु: प्रतिगृह जलेश्वरम् । चतुर्थ लोकपालानां देवदेव॑ सनातनम्,चौथे लोकपाल सनातन देवदेव जलेश्वर वरुणका स्वागत-सत्कार करके धूमकेतु अग्निने उनसे कहा--
tam abravīd dhūmaketuḥ pratigṛha jaleśvaram | caturtha-lokapālānāṃ devadevaṃ sanātanam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Dhūmaketu addressed Jaleśvara Varuṇa—everlasting Lord of lords and the fourth among the guardians of the worlds—inviting him to accept the hospitality and reception that had been offered.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic duty of offering and accepting proper hospitality (satkāra) toward honored guests—especially divine or eminent beings—thereby upholding social and cosmic order.
Narratively, Dhūmaketu speaks to Varuṇa, praising him as the eternal 'god of gods' and a Lokapāla, and asks him to accept the welcome and reception being offered.