Shloka 21
नहुषोपाख्यानम्—दीपदान-धूप-बलीकर्म-प्रशंसा
Nahūṣa Episode and the Commendation of Lamp-Gifting and Household Offerings
वरदानप्रभावज्ञों नहुषस्य महात्मन: । न चुकोप तदागस्त्यो युक्तोडपि नहुषेण वै,अगस्त्यमुनि महामना नहुषको मिले हुए वरदानका प्रभाव जानते थे, इसलिये उसके द्वारा रथमें जोते जानेपर भी वे कुपित नहीं हुए
varadāna-prabhāva-jño nahuṣasya mahātmanaḥ | na cukopa tadāgastyō yukto ’pi nahuṣeṇa vai ||
Bhīṣma said: Agastya, the great sage, understood the power of the boon granted to the noble Nahuṣa. Therefore, even when Nahuṣa yoked him to the chariot, Agastya did not become angry—restraining himself in awareness of the boon’s force and the larger moral order at play.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when subjected to humiliation or injustice, a wise person restrains anger and responds with discernment. Understanding the forces at work (here, the potency of a boon and its consequences) supports patience, self-mastery, and adherence to dharma.
Bhishma recounts that Sage Agastya, aware of the extraordinary power Nahuṣa possessed due to a boon, did not flare up in anger even when Nahuṣa compelled him to be yoked to a chariot—highlighting Agastya’s forbearance and insight.