Shloka 20
Dhūpa–Dīpa–Bali Phala Praśna; Nahūṣa–Agastya–Bhṛgu Saṃvāda
Incense, Lamp, and Bali Offerings; the Nahūṣa Dialogue
प्रायच्छत वरं देव: प्रजानां दुःखकारणम् । द्विजेष्वधर्मयुक्तानि स करोति नराधम:
prāyacchata varaṃ devaḥ prajānāṃ duḥkha-kāraṇam | dvijeṣv adharma-yuktāni sa karoti narādhamaḥ ||
Agastya dit : «Bien qu’un dieu lui ait jadis accordé une grâce, il est devenu une cause de souffrance pour les peuples. Cet homme vil se conduit désormais envers les brahmanes d’une manière liée à l’injustice (adharma).»
अगस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A boon or power is not inherently beneficial; when wielded without dharma it turns into a cause of public suffering. Ethical conduct—especially restraint and proper regard for the twice-born and social norms—is presented as the true measure of worth.
Agastya is describing a person who, despite having received a divine boon, has become oppressive to the people and is acting unrighteously toward Brahmins. The verse frames this as moral degeneration: divine favor has been misused, producing harm and adharma.