Shloka 28
Dhūpa–Dīpa–Bali Phala Praśna; Nahūṣa–Agastya–Bhṛgu Saṃvāda
Incense, Lamp, and Bali Offerings; the Nahūṣa Dialogue
नहुषं पापकर्माणमैश्वर्यबलमोहितम् | यथा च रोचते तुभ्यं तथा कर्तास्म्यहं मुने
nahuṣaṃ pāpakarmāṇam aiśvaryabalamohitam | yathā ca rocate tubhyaṃ tathā kartāsmy ahaṃ mune mahāmune ||
Agastya dit : «Nahusha est un pécheur, égaré par l’ivresse de la souveraineté et de la force. Ô sage, grand sage — ce qui te paraît juste, c’est ainsi même que j’agirai.»
अगस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and strength can intoxicate and delude; when authority becomes pride, it turns into sinful conduct. The verse also underscores deference to wise counsel: the speaker submits his action to what the sage judges proper.
Agastya identifies Nahusha as morally fallen due to the delusion of kingship and might, and tells the addressed sage that he will proceed exactly as the sage deems appropriate—preparing the ground for Nahusha’s chastisement and downfall.