Shloka 14
Marutta’s Sacrifice and Agni’s Embassy (मरुत्त-यज्ञे दूतत्वम्)
अग्निर्वाच शक्रो भृशं सुसुखी पार्थिवेन्द्र प्रीति चेच्छत्यजरां वै त्वया सः । देवाश्व सर्वे वशगास्तस्य राजन् संदेशं त्वं शृणु मे देवराज्ञ:
agnir uvāca śakro bhṛśaṃ susukhī pārthivendra prītiṃ cecchati jarāṃ vai tvayā saḥ | devāś ca sarve vaśagās tasya rājan saṃdeśaṃ tvaṃ śṛṇu me devarājñaḥ ||
Agni dit : «Ô seigneur de la terre, Śakra (Indra) est comblé de contentement. Il souhaite établir avec toi un lien de bienveillance et d’amitié qui ne vieillira pas. Tous les dieux, ô roi, sont sous son autorité. Écoute donc de ma bouche le message du roi des dieux.»
मरुत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights righteous kingship through respectful engagement with divine order: a king should value enduring goodwill (ajarā prīti) and heed legitimate counsel, recognizing the hierarchy and responsibilities that sustain harmony between rulers and the wider cosmic order.
Agni speaks to a king, reporting that Indra is pleased and wishes to form a lasting friendship with him. Agni then asks the king to listen as he conveys Indra’s message, emphasizing Indra’s sovereignty over the gods.