Shloka 183
Nakula’s Declaration and the Uñchavṛtti Brāhmaṇa’s Superior Merit (Āśvamedhika Parva, Adhyāya 92)
स्पर्शयज्ञं करिष्यामि विधिरेष सनातन: । “यदि इन्द्र बारह वर्षोंतक वर्षा नहीं करेंगे तो मैं स्पर्शयज्ञ- करूँगा। यह भी यज्ञकी सनातन विधि है”
sparśayajñaṁ kariṣyāmi vidhir eṣa sanātanaḥ |
Vaiśampāyana dit : «J’accomplirai le sacrifice de Sparśa ; c’est un rite ancien et vénérable. Si Indra retient la pluie durant douze ans, j’entreprendrai le Sparśa-yajña : telle est l’ordonnance immuable du sacrifice.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that when cosmic order (such as timely rain) fails, dharma offers sanctioned, traditional remedies through properly prescribed rites; steadfast adherence to ancient ritual law is presented as an ethical response to crisis rather than despair or lawlessness.
The speaker reports a resolve to perform the Sparśa-sacrifice if Indra does not send rain for twelve years, presenting the rite as an established, ancient procedure meant to address an extreme drought and restore balance.