Shloka 16
Marutta’s Sacrifice and Agni’s Embassy (मरुत्त-यज्ञे दूतत्वम्)
मरुत्त उवाच संवर्तो्यं याजयिता द्विजो मां बृहस्पतेरञण्जलिरेष तस्य । न चैवासौ याजयित्वा महेन्द्रं मर्त्य सन््तं याजयन्नद्य शोभेत्
Marutta uvāca—Saṃvarto ’yaṃ yājayitā dvijo māṃ Bṛhaspater añjalir eṣa tasya | Na caivāsau yājayitvā Mahendraṃ martya-santaṃ yājayann adya śobhet ||
Marutta dijo: «Venerable señor, este brahmán Saṃvarta oficiará mi sacrificio. Para Bṛhaspati reservo mi ofrenda reverente (añjali). Y después de haber celebrado un sacrificio para el propio Mahendra, no sería digno que hoy buscara gloria oficiando el sacrificio de un mortal como yo».
मरुत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights propriety (aucitya) and humility in ritual life: one should honor spiritual hierarchy appropriately (reverence to Bṛhaspati) and recognize that a priest’s dignity is shaped by the worthiness and scale of the patron—having served Indra, it seems unfitting for him to seek glory by serving an ordinary mortal.
King Marutta declares that Saṃvarta will conduct his sacrifice. He simultaneously expresses deference to Bṛhaspati and remarks that Saṃvarta, who has already officiated for Indra (Mahendra), would not appear to gain further prestige by officiating for a mortal king like Marutta.