Shloka 20
Marutta’s Sacrifice and Agni’s Embassy (मरुत्त-यज्ञे दूतत्वम्)
व्यास उवाच ततो देवानगमद्ू धूमकेतु- दहिाद् भीतो व्यथितोडश्वृत्थपर्णवत् । त॑ं वै दृष्टवा प्राह शक्रो महात्मा बृहस्पते: संनिधौ हव्यवाहम्
vyāsa uvāca | tato devān agamad dhūmaketur dahyād bhīto vyathito 'śvatthaparṇavat | taṃ vai dṛṣṭvā prāha śakro mahātmā bṛhaspateḥ saṃnidhau havyavāham |
Vyāsa dijo: Entonces Agni—llamado Dhūmaketu—atemorizado ante la idea de ser reducido a cenizas y sacudido por la angustia, regresó de inmediato junto a los dioses, temblando como una hoja del aśvattha. Al verlo volver, el magnánimo Śakra (Indra), en presencia del propio Bṛhaspati, interrogó a Havyavāha (Agni): «Agni, por mi mandato fuiste con un mensaje para llevar a Bṛhaspati ante el rey Marutta. Dime: ¿qué dice Marutta, que prepara el sacrificio? ¿Aceptará mi palabra o no?»
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even divine agents can be shaken by fear when confronted with overwhelming power; the passage highlights the ethical tension between authority (Indra’s command), ritual sovereignty (a king’s sacrifice), and truthful reporting by a messenger in the presence of a spiritual preceptor (Bṛhaspati).
Agni returns to the gods trembling after hearing about Saṃvartaka (implied as a fearsome force). Indra, with Bṛhaspati present, interrogates Agni about the response of King Marutta, who is preparing a sacrifice, and whether Marutta will comply with Indra’s message.