Shloka 16
Nahūṣa’s Fall Explained: Agastya’s Account to Indra (Śalya-narrated)
वाहान् कृत्वा वाहयसि तेन स्वर्गद्धितप्रभ: । ध्वंस पाप परिश्रष्ट: क्षीणपुण्यो महीतले
vāhān kṛtvā vāhayasi tena svargārddhitaprabhaḥ | dhvaṃsa pāpa pariśraṣṭaḥ kṣīṇapuṇyo mahītale ||
Agastya dit : «En faisant des autres des bêtes de somme, tu les fais avancer sous ton joug ; par cet acte, ton éclat ne paraît “s’élever” vers le ciel qu’en apparence. Mais lorsque le fruit mûrira, tu tomberas—le péché collé à toi—et, ton mérite épuisé, tu seras rejeté sur la terre.»
अगस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Exploitation—treating others as mere instruments or beasts of burden—creates pāpa that eventually overpowers temporary prosperity. Even if one seems to rise (as if toward svarga), when puṇya is spent the person falls, bearing the moral consequence of the harm done.
Agastya delivers a moral warning: the act of forcing others to carry burdens and driving them is condemned. He frames the outcome in karmic terms—apparent elevation followed by downfall—highlighting that unethical gain cannot secure lasting honor or heavenly reward.