Shloka 27

Devanagari script

ततः प्रज्वाल्य विधिवज्जुहाव परमं हवि:,तदनन्तर महातेजस्वी बृहस्पतिने देवराजकी प्राप्तिके लिये विधिपूर्वक अग्निको प्रज्वलित करके उसमें उत्तम हविष्यकी आहुति दी। राजन! अग्निमें आहुति देकर उन्होंने अग्निदेवसे कहा--“आप इन्द्रदेवका पता लगाइये”

Transliteration

tataḥ prajvālya vidhivad juhāva paramaṃ haviḥ | tadanantaraṃ mahātejasvī bṛhaspatine devarāja-kī prāptaye vidhpūrvakam agniṃ prajvālya tasmin uttama-haviṣyasyāhutiṃ dadau | rājan! agnim āhutiṃ dattvā sa agnidevam uvāca—“tvam indradevasya padaṃ anviccha” iti |

Translation

Then, having kindled the fire according to prescribed rite, he offered the finest oblation. Thereafter, the radiant one, seeking to reach Bṛhaspati and the lord of the gods (Indra), duly rekindled the sacred fire and poured into it an excellent offering. O king, after making the oblation, he addressed Agni: “Find out the whereabouts of Indra.”

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

प्रज्वाल्यhaving kindled

विधिवत्according to rule, duly

जुहावoffered (as oblation)

परमम्supreme, excellent

हविःoblation, sacrificial offering

Speaker

शल्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śalya

Agni (Agnideva)

Indra (Devarāja)

Bṛhaspati

havis (oblation)

sacrificial fire (agni)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights vidhivat (rule-governed) action: when seeking higher counsel or divine assistance, one should proceed with discipline, purity of method, and reverence—using proper means rather than haste or coercion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śalya describes a ritual act: the sacred fire is kindled and an excellent oblation is offered. After the offering, Agni is requested to locate Indra (the king of the gods), indicating a quest for divine contact or guidance through the sanctioned medium of sacrifice.