Shloka 15
अग्निर॒वाच नष्टकीर्तिरहं लोके भवान् जातो हुताशन: । भवन्तमेव ज्ञास्यन्ति पावकं न तु मां जना:,अग्निदेव बोले--मुने! संसारमें मेरी कीर्ति नष्ट हो गयी है। अब आप ही अग्निके पदपर प्रतिष्ठित हैं। आपको ही लोग अग्नि समझेंगे, आपके सामने मुझे कोई अग्नि नहीं मानेगा
agnir uvāca naṣṭakīrtir ahaṃ loke bhavān jāto hutāśanaḥ | bhavantam eva jñāsyanti pāvakaṃ na tu māṃ janāḥ ||
Agni said: “My fame in the world has been ruined. You have now come to stand in the very station of the Fire-god. People will recognize you alone as the purifier-fire; before you, men will not acknowledge me as Agni.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how public recognition (kīrti) shapes perceived authority: when a worthy person embodies a role, society may transfer that identity to them, reminding readers to value inner reality over mere reputation.
Agni laments that his standing among people has diminished and declares that the addressed person has effectively taken Agni’s place; hence people will identify that person as ‘Pāvaka’ and not acknowledge Agni in their presence.