नहुषोपाख्यानम्—दीपदान-धूप-बलीकर्म-प्रशंसा
Nahūṣa Episode and the Commendation of Lamp-Gifting and Household Offerings
सच तैरेव संसिद्धों नहुष: कर्मभि: पुनः । इस प्रकार पूर्वकालमें नहुषके अपराधसे ऐसी घटना घटी कि वे नहुष बार-बार दीपदान आदि पुण्यकर्मोंसे सिद्धिको प्राप्त हुए थे
sac tair eva saṁsiddho nahuṣaḥ karmabhiḥ punaḥ |
Bhīṣma said: “Thus, by those very meritorious deeds, Nahusha again attained spiritual success. In this way, in ancient times, because of Nahusha’s offense, such an event occurred; yet through repeated acts of merit—such as the gift of lamps—he again and again regained auspicious attainment.”
भीष्म उवाच
Even after a grave offense brings downfall, sustained righteous action (puṇya-karma) can restore one’s auspicious state; ethical accountability and remedial merit both operate within dharma.
Bhishma recalls an ancient episode involving King Nahusha: due to an offense, a misfortune occurred, but Nahusha repeatedly regained success through meritorious deeds such as offerings and lamp-gifts.