Shloka 16
Marutta’s Sacrifice and Agni’s Embassy (मरुत्त-यज्ञे दूतत्वम्)
मरुत्त उवाच संवर्तो्यं याजयिता द्विजो मां बृहस्पतेरञण्जलिरेष तस्य । न चैवासौ याजयित्वा महेन्द्रं मर्त्य सन््तं याजयन्नद्य शोभेत्
Marutta uvāca—Saṃvarto ’yaṃ yājayitā dvijo māṃ Bṛhaspater añjalir eṣa tasya | Na caivāsau yājayitvā Mahendraṃ martya-santaṃ yājayann adya śobhet ||
Marutta dit : «Vénérable, c’est ce brahmane Saṃvarta qui officiera mon sacrifice. Quant à Bṛhaspati, je lui réserve mon offrande de mains jointes (añjali). Et après avoir célébré un sacrifice pour Mahendra lui-même, il ne conviendrait pas qu’aujourd’hui il cherche l’éclat en officiant pour un mortel tel que moi.»
मरुत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights propriety (aucitya) and humility in ritual life: one should honor spiritual hierarchy appropriately (reverence to Bṛhaspati) and recognize that a priest’s dignity is shaped by the worthiness and scale of the patron—having served Indra, it seems unfitting for him to seek glory by serving an ordinary mortal.
King Marutta declares that Saṃvarta will conduct his sacrifice. He simultaneously expresses deference to Bṛhaspati and remarks that Saṃvarta, who has already officiated for Indra (Mahendra), would not appear to gain further prestige by officiating for a mortal king like Marutta.