Shloka 4
Nahūṣa’s Fall Explained: Agastya’s Account to Indra (Śalya-narrated)
इन्द्र रवाच स्वागतं ते महर्षेउस्तु प्रीतो5हं दर्शनात् तव । पाद्यमाचमनीयं च गामर्घ्य च प्रतीच्छ मे
indra uvāca—svāgataṁ te maharṣe; tuṣṭaḥ prīto ’haṁ darśanāt tava | pādyaṁ ācamanīyaṁ ca gām arghyaṁ ca pratīccha me ||
Indra said: “Welcome, great seer. I am satisfied and delighted by your very sight. Please accept from me the customary offerings of hospitality—water for washing the feet, water for sipping, the arghya offering, and a cow.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights atithi-dharma: honoring a worthy guest—especially a sage—with respectful words and the traditional offerings (pādya, ācamanīya, arghya, and a cow). Even Indra models humility and reverence, showing that ethical conduct is measured by how one receives and serves the virtuous.
Indra greets a great ṛṣi who has arrived, expresses joy at seeing him, and formally offers the standard hospitality items—foot-washing water, sipping water, arghya, and a cow—requesting the sage to accept them.