Shloka 1
Adhyāya 12: Devas’ Petition to Nahūṣa; Bṛhaspati on Śaraṇāgata-Dharma; Indrāṇī’s Strategic Delay
2 ड-ण का द्वादशोड् ध्याय: देवता-नहुष-संवाद, बृहस्पतिके द्वारा इन्द्राणीकी रक्षा तथा इन्द्राणीका नहुषके 5 कक छ समयकी अवधि माँगनेके जाना शल्य उवाच क्रुद्धं तु नहुषं दृष्टवा देवा ऋषिपुरोगमा: । अब्लुवन् देवराजानं नहुषं घोरदर्शनम्,शल्य कहते हैं--युधिष्ठि!! देवराज नहुषको क्रोधमें भरे हुए देख देवतालोग ऋषियोंको आगे करके उनके पास गये। उस समय उनकी दृष्टि बड़ी भयंकर प्रतीत होती थी। देवताओं तथा ऋषियोंने कहा--
śalya uvāca | kruddhaṃ tu nahuṣaṃ dṛṣṭvā devā ṛṣipurogamāḥ | abruvan devarājānaṃ nahuṣaṃ ghoradarśanam ||
Śalya said: Seeing Nahuṣa inflamed with anger, the gods—placing the sages at their head—approached him and addressed that king of the gods, Nahuṣa, whose appearance at that time seemed terrifying. The gods and sages said—
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power without self-restraint becomes frightening and unstable; therefore the gods seek the guidance and moral authority of sages, implying that righteous counsel (dharma) should govern even the highest sovereignty.
Nahuṣa, acting as devarāja, is seen in a wrathful and fearsome state. The gods, led by the sages, go to him and begin to speak—introducing a dialogue meant to check his conduct and avert the consequences of his anger and arrogance.