Shloka 1
Nahūṣa’s Fall Explained: Agastya’s Account to Indra (Śalya-narrated)
/ [दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका ह “लोक मिलाकर कुल ३४ ३ “लोक हैं।] डी >> श््य हि कक सप्तदशो<्ध्याय: अगस्त्यजीका इन्द्रसे नहुषके पतनका वृत्तान्त बताना शल्य उवाच अथ संचिन्तयानस्य देवराजस्य धीमत: । नहुषस्य वधोपायं लोकपालै: सदैवतैः
Śalya uvāca: atha sañcintayānasya devarājasya dhīmataḥ | nahuṣasya vadhopāyaṃ lokapālaiḥ sadaivataiḥ ||
Dijo Śalya: «Entonces, cuando el sabio rey de los dioses deliberaba—junto con los guardianes de los mundos y las deidades reunidas—sobre el medio para provocar la destrucción de Nahūṣa, (aquel consejo empezó a tomar forma).»
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the restoration of cosmic order as a matter of thoughtful counsel: even divine power is shown acting through deliberation with responsible guardians, implying that authority should be guided by wisdom, consultation, and dharmic purpose—especially when confronting arrogance that threatens order.
Śalya begins recounting an episode: Indra, described as wise, is conferring with the Lokapālas and other gods to determine how to bring about Nahusha’s destruction/downfall. This sets the stage for the subsequent arrival of a sage and the unfolding of the plan against Nahusha.