Shloka 46
Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)
अथोवाच नहुषः सर्व मां शक्रोपभुक्तमुपस्थितमृते शचीमिति स एवमुकक््त्वा शचीसमीपमगमदुवाचैनां सुभगे5हमिन्द्रो देवानां भजस्व मामिति तं शची प्रत्युवाच प्रकृत्या त्वं धर्मवत्सल: सोमवंशोद्धवश्व नाहसि परपत्नीधर्षणं कर्तुमिति,कुछ कालके पश्चात् नहुषने देवताओंसे कहा--*इन्द्रके उपभोगमें आनेवाली अन्य सारी वस्तुएँ तो मेरी सेवामें उपस्थित हैं। केवल शची मुझे नहीं मिली हैं।! ऐसा कहकर वे शचीके पास गये और उनसे बोले--'सौभाग्यशालिनि! मैं देवताओंका राजा इन्द्र हूँ। मेरी सेवा स्वीकार करो।” शचीने उत्तर दिया--'महाराज! आप स्वभावसे ही धर्मवत्सल और चन्द्रवंशके रत्न हैं। आपको परायी स्त्रीपर बलात्कार नहीं करना चाहिये”
atha uvāca nahuṣaḥ: sarvaṃ māṃ śakropabhuktam upasthitam ṛte śacīm iti. sa evam uktvā śacī-samīpam agamad uvāca ca enāṃ: subhage, ahaṃ indro devānāṃ, bhajasva mām iti. taṃ śacī pratyuvāca: prakṛtyā tvaṃ dharmavatsalaḥ somavaṃśodbhavaś ca; na arhasi para-patnī-dharṣaṇaṃ kartum iti.
Then Nahusha said, “Everything that was once enjoyed by Indra is now at my disposal—except Śacī.” Having spoken thus, he went to Śacī and said, “Fortunate lady, I am Indra, king of the gods; accept me and be with me.” Śacī replied, “O king, by nature you are devoted to dharma and a jewel of the Lunar race; you ought not to violate another man’s wife.”
तास्त्वाष्ट उवाच क्व गमिष्यथास्यतां तावन्मया सह श्रेयो भविष्यन्तीति
Educational Q&A
Even when one holds power or status, dharma forbids coercion and the violation of another’s spouse; true nobility is shown by restraint and respect for moral boundaries.
Nahusha, acting as Indra’s substitute, complains that everything is available to him except Shachi. He approaches her claiming to be Indra and asks her to accept him; Shachi rebukes him, appealing to his dharmic nature and lineage, and rejects the idea of violating another man’s wife.