Shloka 28
Adhyāya 12: Devas’ Petition to Nahūṣa; Bṛhaspati on Śaraṇāgata-Dharma; Indrāṇī’s Strategic Delay
एवमेतद् द्विजश्रेष्ठ देवी चेयं प्रसाद्यताम् ततः: समस्ता इन्द्राणीं देवाश्चाग्निपुरोगमा: । ऊचुर्वचनमव्यग्रा लोकानां हितकाम्यया
evam etad dvijaśreṣṭha devī ceyaṁ prasādyatām tataḥ samastā indrāṇīṁ devāś cāgnipurogamāḥ | ūcur vacanam avyagrā lokānāṁ hitakāmyayā ||
“So it is, O best of Brahmins. Let this goddess be conciliated. Then all the gods—led by Agni—approached Indrāṇī and, seeking the welfare of all worlds, spoke to her with calm and undistracted minds.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic method of resolving tension: seek the welfare of all worlds (lokānāṁ hita) through calm, focused speech and conciliatory action—propitiating the appropriate divine power rather than acting from agitation.
Śalya reports that a Brahmin is advised to appease a goddess; afterward, the gods led by Agni approach Indrāṇī (Śacī) and address her serenely, motivated by the common good of all worlds.