Shloka 9
Nahuṣa Abhiṣeka and the Crisis of Restraint (नहुषाभिषेकः—दमभ्रंशः)
ब्रह्मर्षश्षापि देवांश्व गोपायस्व त्रिविष्टपे अभिषिक्त: स राजेन्द्र ततो राजा त्रिविष्टपे
brahmarṣīn api devāṁś ca gopāyasva triviṣṭape | abhiṣiktaḥ sa rājendra tato rājā triviṣṭape | “āpa svargam̐e rahakara brahmarṣiyoṁ tathā devatāoṁ kā pālana kījiye.” yudhiṣṭhira! tad-anantaraṁ rājā nahuṣaḥ svarge indrasya pade ’bhiṣekaṁ prāptaḥ ||
“While dwelling in heaven, protect the Brahmarṣis and the gods.” Thus instructed, O best of kings, he was consecrated there in Triviṣṭapa; and thereafter King Nahuṣa was installed in heaven upon Indra’s very station. The passage underscores that sovereignty—even in heaven—is framed as guardianship: the ruler’s legitimacy rests on protecting the righteous seers and sustaining the divine order.
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Rule is defined as protection: a king’s foremost duty is to safeguard the Brahmarṣis (spiritual authority) and the gods (cosmic order). Even a heavenly throne is justified only by dharmic guardianship, not by privilege.
Śalya recounts that Nahuṣa, after being told to protect the Brahmarṣis and the gods while residing in heaven, is consecrated in Triviṣṭapa and installed on Indra’s post—Indra’s station in Svarga.