Shloka 24
नहुषोपाख्यानम्—दीपदान-धूप-बलीकर्म-प्रशंसा
Nahūṣa Episode and the Commendation of Lamp-Gifting and Household Offerings
शशाप बलवत्क़ुद्धो नहुषं पापचेतसम् | यस्मात् पदा55हत: क्रोधाच्छिरसीमं महामुनिम्
śaśāpa balavat kruddho nahuṣaṁ pāpacetasam | yasmāt padāhatāḥ krodhāc chirasīmaṁ mahāmunim ||
Bhīṣma said: Enraged and mighty, the great sage pronounced a curse upon Nahuṣa, whose mind had turned to sin—because, in a fit of anger, Nahuṣa struck the venerable great ascetic upon the head with his foot.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Uncontrolled anger and pride—especially when directed against the virtuous—constitute adharma and bring immediate moral repercussions; reverence toward sages and self-restraint are essential safeguards of righteous conduct.
Bhīṣma recounts how Nahuṣa, overcome by anger and wrongdoing, struck a great sage on the head with his foot; in response, the enraged sage cursed Nahuṣa, setting in motion his downfall.