Shloka 16
नहुषोपाख्यानम्—दीपदान-धूप-बलीकर्म-प्रशंसा
Nahūṣa Episode and the Commendation of Lamp-Gifting and Household Offerings
निमीलय स्वनयने जटां यावद् विशामि ते । स्थाणुभूतस्य तस्याथ जटां प्राविशदच्युत:
nimīlaya svanayane jaṭāṁ yāvad viśāmi te | sthāṇubhūtasya tasyātha jaṭāṁ prāviśad acyutaḥ ||
Dijo Bhishma: “Oh sabio, cierra tus ojos por un momento, hasta que yo entre en tus guedejas.” Cuando el rishi, tras cerrar los ojos, quedó inmóvil como un pilar, el firme, el que no quebranta la norma, entró en su cabellera enmarañada—con la intención de hacer caer al rey del cielo. Justo entonces, el rey Nahusha, semejante a Indra, se acercó al rishi, queriendo convertirlo en su portador (el que tirase del carro).
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power without humility turns into adharma: the king’s desire to use a rishi as a mere bearer signals arrogance, and the narrative frames such overreach as a cause of inevitable downfall, while ascetic restraint and steadfast adherence to propriety remain the ethical ideal.
A sage is asked to close his eyes so another can enter his matted locks; the sage becomes motionless like a pillar. At that moment King Nahusha arrives, intending to make the rishi his vehicle, setting up the conflict that leads to Nahusha’s humiliation and fall.