Shloka 47
Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)
तामथोवाच नहुष ऐन्द्रं पदमध्यास्थते मया-5हमिन्द्रस्थ राज्यरत्नहरो नात्राधर्म: वश्चित् त्वमिन्द्रोप-भुक्तेति सा तमुवाचास्ति मम किंचिद् व्रतमपर्यवसितं तस्यावभृथे त्वामुपगमिष्यामि कैश्चिदेवाहोभिरिति स शच्येवमभिहितो जगाम,तब नहुषने शचीसे कहा--'देवि! इस समय मैं इन्द्रपदपर प्रतिष्ठित हूँ। इन्द्रके राज्य और रत्न दोनोंका अधिकारी हो गया हूँ; अतः तुम्हारे साथ समागम करनेमें कोई अधर्म नहीं है; क्योंकि तुम इन्द्रके उपभोगमें आयी हुई वस्तु हो।। यह सुनकर शचीने कहा--“महाराज! मैंने एक व्रत ले रखा है। वह अभी समाप्त नहीं हुआ है। उसकी समाप्ति हो जानेपर कुछ ही दिनोंमें मैं आपकी सेवामें उपस्थित होऊँगी।! शचीके ऐसा कहनेपर नहुष चले गये
tām athovāca nahuṣaḥ—“aindraṁ padam adhyāsthitaṁ mayā; ahaṁ indrasthaṁ rājya-ratna-haro; nātrādharmaḥ kaścit; tvam indropabhukte” iti. sā tam uvāca—“asti mama kiñcid vrataṁ aparyavasitaṁ; tasya avabhṛthe tvām upagamiṣyāmi kaiścid evāhobhir” iti. sa śacyā evam abhihito jagāma.
Nahuṣa said to her, “I have now ascended Indra’s station. I have taken possession of Indra’s sovereignty and treasures; therefore there is no adharma in uniting with you, for you are one who has been enjoyed by Indra.” Hearing this, Śacī replied, “I have a vow (vrata) that is not yet completed. At its concluding bath (avabhṛtha), after only a few days, I will come to you.” Thus addressed by Śacī, Nahuṣa departed.
तास्त्वाष्ट उवाच क्व गमिष्यथास्यतां तावन्मया सह श्रेयो भविष्यन्तीति
Educational Q&A
Power and office do not automatically confer moral entitlement: Nahuṣa tries to justify desire by claiming Indra’s position and treating Śacī as a transferable possession, while the narrative highlights dharma as grounded in right conduct and restraint rather than mere authority.
Nahuṣa, having assumed Indra’s post, presses for union with Śacī and argues it is not adharma. Śacī avoids immediate compliance by citing an unfinished vow and promising to come after its avabhṛtha, thereby gaining time and deflecting his demand.