Shloka 22
Agni’s Withdrawal to the Forest and Identification with Āṅgirasa (अग्न्याङ्गिरस-इतिहासः)
इन्द्रोडप्येषां प्रणमते कि पुनर्मानवो भुवि | अवलिप्ते न जानीषे वृद्धानां न श्रुतं त्वया
indro 'py eṣāṁ praṇamate ki punaḥ mānavo bhuvi | avalipte na jānīṣe vṛddhānāṁ na śrutaṁ tvayā ||
The brāhmaṇa said: “Even Indra bows to such elders—how much more should a mere human on earth do so! But you, puffed up with pride, do not understand; you have not heeded what the elders have taught.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Humility and reverence toward elders are marks of dharma; pride blinds one to instruction, and even the highest (Indra) models respectful conduct.
A brāhmaṇa rebukes someone for arrogance, arguing that if Indra himself bows to elders, a human should certainly do so; the listener is faulted for ignoring elders’ counsel.