Shloka 44
Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)
अथ देवा ऋषयश्नायुषः: पुत्र नहुषं नाम देवराज्येडभिषिषिचुर्नहुष: पठ्चभि: शतैज्योतिषां ललाटे ज्वलद्धि: सर्वतेजोहरैस्त्रिविष्टपं पालयांबभूव
atha devā ṛṣayaś cāyuṣaḥ putraṁ nahuṣaṁ nāma devarājye ’bhiṣiṣicuḥ | nahuṣasya lalāṭe pañcaśataiḥ jyotiṣāṁ jvaladbhiḥ sarva-tejo-haraiḥ tri-viṣṭapaṁ pālayāmāsa |
Alors les dieux et les rishis consacrèrent Nahuṣa, fils d’Āyus, à la souveraineté des dieux. Sur le front de Nahuṣa flamboyaient cinq cents lumières éclatantes, dont on disait qu’elles ravissaient l’éclat de tous les êtres. Fort de cette splendeur écrasante, il se mit à gouverner le royaume céleste de Triviṣṭapa.
तास्त्वाष्ट उवाच क्व गमिष्यथास्यतां तावन्मया सह श्रेयो भविष्यन्तीति
Educational Q&A
Authority and kingship are portrayed as conferred through legitimate consecration by higher moral-spiritual authorities (gods and sages), but immense power (tejas) that overwhelms or appropriates others’ splendor must be governed by dharma; otherwise it becomes a seed of ethical downfall.
The gods and sages install Nahusha, son of Āyus, in the role of devarāja. Marked by five hundred blazing lights on his forehead that can draw away others’ radiance, he begins ruling the heavenly realm called Triviṣṭapa.