Shloka 28
Nahūṣa’s Pride, the Ṛṣi-Borne Palanquin, and the Search for Indra (नहुष-इन्द्राणी-प्रकरणम्)
बृहस्पतिर्महातेजा देवराजोपलब्धये । ह॒त्वाग्निं सो5ब्रवीद् राजज्छक्रमन्विष्यतामिति,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”
bṛhaspatir mahātejā devarājopalabdhaye | hutvāgnim so ’bravīd rājan śakram anvīṣyatām iti ||
Śalya said: “Bṛhaspati, radiant with great spiritual power, sought to recover the Lord of the gods. Having duly offered oblations into the sacred fire, he addressed Agni: ‘O King, let Śakra (Indra) be sought out.’”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic problem-solving: when rightful order is disrupted (the gods’ king is missing), one proceeds through sanctioned means—ritual offering, disciplined intention, and respectful command—invoking cosmic agencies (Agni) to restore balance.
Śalya narrates that Bṛhaspati performs a fire-offering and then requests Agni to locate Indra (Śakra), indicating a formal, sacred effort to find the missing devarāja.