Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
अथोत्थाय जलात् तस्मातू् सर्वे ते समुपागमन् । नापश्यंश्वापि ते तानि बिसानि पुरुषर्षभा:,थोड़ी देर बाद जब वे पुरुषप्रवर पानीसे बाहर निकले तो उन्हें रखे हुए अपने वे मृणाल नहीं दिखायी पड़े
athotthāya jalāt tasmāt sarve te samupāgaman | nāpaśyaṃś cāpi te tāni bisāni puruṣarṣabhāḥ ||
Then, rising up from that water, all of them came together. But those bull-like men could not see the lotus-stalks that they had kept there—finding them missing after they emerged.
शुन:सख उवाच
The verse highlights how outcomes can suddenly change despite prior preparation—inviting reflection on vigilance, responsibility, and the limits of control over external circumstances.
After coming out of the water and gathering together, the men look for the lotus-stalks they had set aside, but they cannot find them; the stored items have disappeared.