Shloka 24
Marutta’s Sacrifice and Agni’s Embassy (मरुत्त-यज्ञे दूतत्वम्)
इन्द्र रवाच पुनर्गत्वा पार्थिवं त्वं समेत्य वाक्यं मदीयं प्रापय स्वार्थयुक्तम् । पुनर्यद् युक्तो न करिष्यते वच- स्त्वत्तो वज्ज सम्प्रहर्तास्मि तस्मै
indra uvāca punar gatvā pārthivaṁ tvaṁ sametya vākyaṁ madīyaṁ prāpaya svārtha-yuktam | punar yad yukto na kariṣyate vacas tvatto vajraṁ samprahartāsmi tasmai ||
Indra dit : «Va encore une fois, rencontre le roi et transmets-lui mon message, chargé de mon dessein. S’il n’agit pas selon mes paroles, même après que tu les auras répétées, alors je le frapperai de la foudre.»
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Authority and responsibility are paired with accountability: a ruler is expected to heed purposeful counsel, and refusal to follow rightful instruction invites consequences. The verse frames ethical governance as responsiveness to legitimate warning, not mere assertion of power.
Indra instructs Agni to return to King Marutta and deliver Indra’s message again. Indra adds an ultimatum: if Marutta still refuses to comply after this renewed communication, Indra will punish him by striking with the vajra.