Shloka 12
Marutta’s Sacrifice and Agni’s Embassy (मरुत्त-यज्ञे दूतत्वम्)
अग्निर्वाच आसन सलिल पाद्यं प्रतिनन्दामि तेडनघ । इन्द्रेण तु समादिदष्टं विद्धि मां दूतमागतम्
agniḥ uvāca—āsana-salila-pādyaṁ pratinandāmi te ’n-agha | indreṇa tu samādiṣṭaṁ viddhi māṁ dūtam āgatam ||
Agni dit : «Ô roi sans tache, j’accepte avec gratitude et je salue tes offrandes respectueuses — siège, eau et ablution des pieds. Sache que je suis venu ici en qualité de messager, dépêché par Indra.»
मरुत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic hospitality: honoring a guest with traditional offerings (seat, water, foot-washing) is righteous conduct, and even divine beings acknowledge such respect. It also underscores the ethical weight of a messenger’s role—one speaks with the authority of the sender.
Agni addresses King Marutta, accepting the king’s formal welcome and then revealing his purpose: he has arrived as Indra’s envoy, carrying Indra’s message and acting under Indra’s commission.