Shloka 31
Adhyāya 12: Devas’ Petition to Nahūṣa; Bṛhaspati on Śaraṇāgata-Dharma; Indrāṇī’s Strategic Delay
देवता बोले--देवि! यह समस्त चराचर जगत् तुमने ही धारण कर रखा है, क्योंकि तुम पतिव्रता और सत्यपरायणा हो। अतः तुम नहुषके पास चलो। देवेश्वरि! तुम्हारी कामना करनेके कारण पापी नहुष शीघ्र नष्ट हो जायगा और इन्द्र पुनः अपने देवसाम्राज्यको प्राप्त कर लेंगे ।। एवं विनिश्चयं कृत्वा इन्द्राणी कार्यसिद्धये । अभ्यगच्छत सव्रीडा नहुषं घोरदर्शनम्,अपनी कार्य-सिद्धिके लिये ऐसा निश्चय करके इन्द्राणी भयंकर दृष्टिवाले नहुषके पास बड़े संकोचके साथ गयी
devatā ūcuḥ—devi! idaṃ samastaṃ carācaraṃ jagat tvayaiva dhāritaṃ, yasmāt tvaṃ pativratā satyaparāyaṇā ca. ataḥ tvaṃ nahuṣasya samīpaṃ gaccha. deveśvari! tvāṃ kāmayamānasya pāpinaḥ nahuṣasya śīghraṃ nāśo bhaviṣyati, indraś ca punaḥ svaṃ devasāmrājyaṃ prāpsyati. evaṃ viniścayaṃ kṛtvā indrāṇī kāryasiddhaye’bhyagacchat savrīḍā nahuṣaṃ ghoradarśanam.
The gods said: “O Goddess! You uphold this entire moving and unmoving world, for you are devoted to your husband and steadfast in truth. Therefore go to Nahusha. O Lady of the gods! Because that sinful Nahusha desires you, he will quickly meet his ruin, and Indra will regain his sovereignty among the gods.” Having thus resolved upon this plan for accomplishing their purpose, Indrani—though filled with modest hesitation—approached Nahusha, whose appearance was dreadful.
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Truthfulness and steadfast marital fidelity (pativrata-dharma) are portrayed as powerful ethical forces that sustain cosmic order; unrighteous desire (kāma) leads to rapid downfall, while dharmic resolve restores rightful sovereignty.
The gods counsel Indrani to go to Nahusha as part of a plan: his illicit desire for her will become the cause of his destruction, enabling Indra to regain the rule of the gods. Indrani, though modest and reluctant, proceeds to approach the fearsome Nahusha.