Shloka 33
Adhyāya 71: Kaca and the Saṃjīvanī-vidyā
Devayānī–Śukra Episode
मतड़ं याजयाज्चक्रे यत्र प्रीतमना: स्वयम् । त्वं च सोमं भयाद् यस्य गतः पातु सुरेश्वर,सुरेश्वर! उन्होंने मतंग मुनिके किये हुए उपकारसे प्रसन्न होकर स्वयं पुरोहित बनकर उनका यज्ञ कराया; जिसमें उनके भयसे आप भी सोमपान करनेके लिये पधारे थे
Mataṅgaṃ yājayāṃ cakre yatra prītamanāḥ svayam | tvaṃ ca somaṃ bhayād yasya gataḥ pātu sureśvara ||
Kanva said: “He himself, with a heart made glad by the kindness shown by the sage Mataṅga, acted as priest and caused him to perform a sacrifice. And it was out of fear of him that you too, O Lord of the gods, came there to drink the Soma.”
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical reciprocity and gratitude: one who has received a benefaction should respond with sincere service (here, personally officiating a sacrifice). It also suggests that spiritual merit and ascetic power can command even divine respect, reminding rulers (human or divine) that authority is not absolute without dharma.
Kaṇva recalls an episode in which someone—pleased by Mataṅga’s help—personally became the officiant and enabled Mataṅga’s yajña. In that sacrifice, Indra himself came to partake of Soma, and Kaṇva notes that Indra’s coming was motivated by fear of the person whose power or resolve compelled even the king of gods.