Shloka 29
Adhyāya 12: Devas’ Petition to Nahūṣa; Bṛhaspati on Śaraṇāgata-Dharma; Indrāṇī’s Strategic Delay
देवा ऊचु त्वया जगदिदं सर्व धृतं स्थावरजड्रमम् | एकपत्न्यसि सत्या च गच्छस्व नहुषं प्रति
devā ūcuḥ tvayā jagad idaṁ sarvaṁ dhṛtaṁ sthāvara-jaḍramam | eka-patny asi satyā ca gacchasva nahuṣaṁ prati ||
The gods said: “By you this entire world—both the immovable and the insentient—has been upheld. You are devoted to a single husband and steadfast in truth. Therefore go to Nahuṣa.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises two dharmic virtues—truthfulness (satya) and exclusive marital fidelity (eka-patnī)—as sustaining forces of order, so powerful that they are described as upholding the world; such virtue earns divine recognition and guidance.
Within Śalya’s narration, the gods address a virtuous woman, commending her truth and single-spouse fidelity, and instruct her to go to Nahuṣa—indicating that her moral authority and purity are pivotal to the next turn of events involving him.