Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
मया हान्तर्हितानीह बिसानीमानि पश्यत । परीक्षार्थ भगवतां कृतमेवं॑ मयानघा:,मैंने उन मृणालोंको यहाँ छिपा दिया था। देखिये, ये रहे आपके मृणाल। निष्पाप मुनियो! मैंने आपलोगोंकी परीक्षाके लिये ही ऐसा किया था
mayā hāntarhitānīha bisānīmāni paśyata | parīkṣārthaṁ bhagavatāṁ kṛtam evaṁ mayānaghāḥ ||
Śunaḥsakha dijo: «Yo había escondido aquí estos tallos de loto. Mirad: aquí están los vuestros. Oh sabios sin mancha, lo hice sólo para poneros a prueba, a vosotros, los venerables.»
शुन:सख उवाच
The verse highlights ethical discernment: an act that appears deceptive (hiding the lotus-stalks) is framed as a deliberate test of the sages’ conduct, emphasizing examination of virtue, restraint, and intention in dharmic life.
Śunaḥsakha reveals that he had concealed the lotus-stalks and now returns them, explaining to the sinless sages that the concealment was done specifically to test them.