Shloka 166

Nahuṣa Abhiṣeka and the Crisis of Restraint (नहुषाभिषेकः—दमभ्रंशः)

Devanagari script

सम्प्राप्ता दर्शन देवी शक्रस्य महिषी प्रिया । उनके लिये वायु मनोहर

Transliteration

samprāptā darśanaṃ devī śakrasya mahiṣī priyā | teṣāṃ vāyavaḥ manoharāḥ sukhadāḥ śītalāḥ sugandhitāś ca vavāhuḥ | evaṃ krīḍataḥ durātmanaḥ rājñaḥ nahuṣasya dṛṣṭir ekadā devarāja-indrasya priyāyāṃ mahārāṇyāṃ śacīyāṃ nipapāta |

Translation

Śalya said: The goddess Śacī, beloved queen of Śakra (Indra), came into view. For her sake the winds seemed to blow delightfully—pleasant to the mind, soothing, cool, and fragrant. Thus, while he sported in self-indulgence, the wicked-minded king Nahuṣa one day cast his gaze upon Śacī, the cherished great queen of Indra.

Word by Word

• सम्प्राप्ता: having arrived / having come
• सम्प्राप्ता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-प्र-आप् (धातु) / सम्प्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• दर्शनम्: sight; audience; seeing
• दर्शनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• देवी: the goddess; lady
• देवी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• शक्रस्य: of Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• महिषी: chief queen; consort
• महिषी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिषी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रिया: beloved; dear
• प्रिया: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

शल्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• शल्य (Śalya)
• नहुष (Nahuṣa)
• इन्द्र/शक्र/देवराज (Indra/Śakra/Devarāja)
• शची (Śacī/Indrāṇī)
• वायु (the winds)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how unchecked desire and self-indulgence in a ruler can corrupt judgment and lead toward adharma—especially when one covets what is bound by loyalty and divine order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śalya narrates that Śacī, Indra’s beloved queen, comes into view amid an idyllic atmosphere, and King Nahuṣa—described as wicked-minded—fixes his gaze upon her, foreshadowing an improper pursuit.