Shloka 14
अग्निशाप-प्रसंगः
Agni’s Curse and the Restoration of Ritual Order
विनाग्निना प्रजा: सर्वास्तत आसन सुदु:खिता: । अथर्षय: समुद्विग्ना देवान् गत्वाब्रुवन् वच:,उग्रश्रवाजी कहते हैं--महर्षियो! तदनन्तर अग्निदेवने कुछ सोच-विचारकर द्विजोंके अन्निहोत्र, यज्ञ, सत्र तथा संस्कारसम्बन्धी क्रियाओंमेंसे अपने-आपको समेट लिया। फिर तो अग्निके बिना समस्त प्रजा ३>कार, वषट्कार, स्वथा और स्वाहा आदिसे वंचित होकर अत्यन्त दुःखी हो गयी। तब महर्षिगण अत्यन्त उद्विग्न हो देवताओंके पास जाकर बोले --
śaunaka uvāca |
vināgninā prajāḥ sarvāḥ tata āsan suduḥkhitāḥ |
atharṣayaḥ samudvignā devān gatvābruvan vacaḥ ||
Śaunaka said: “Thereafter, with Agni absent, all creatures fell into extreme distress. Then the sages, deeply agitated, went to the gods and spoke these words.”
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that sacred institutions (symbolized by Agni and yajña) are not merely ceremonial but uphold social and cosmic stability; when they fail, collective suffering follows, and responsible leaders (the sages) seek restoration through rightful channels.
Agni’s absence causes widespread distress among beings; alarmed by the breakdown of ritual life and its consequences, the sages approach the gods to report the crisis and request a solution.