Shloka 5
Nahūṣa’s Fall Explained: Agastya’s Account to Indra (Śalya-narrated)
शल्य उवाच पूजितं चोपविष्टं तमासने मुनिसत्तमम् | पर्यपृच्छत देवेश: प्रहृष्टो ब्राह्मणर्षभम्
śalya uvāca pūjitaṃ copaviṣṭaṃ tam āsane munisattamam | paryapṛcchata deveśaḥ prahṛṣṭo brāhmaṇarṣabham |
Śalya dit : Après avoir rendu les honneurs dus à ce plus éminent des sages et l’avoir fait asseoir sur un siège convenable, le souverain—le cœur plein d’allégresse—interrogea le taureau parmi les brahmanes.
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic conduct in seeking guidance: one should first honour the wise with proper reception and seating, and only then inquire respectfully. Reverence and humility are presented as prerequisites for receiving sound counsel.
A foremost sage has arrived or is present; he is welcomed, honoured, and seated. Then a lordly figure (addressed as deveśa) joyfully begins to question the eminent Brahmin-sage, setting up a dialogue of counsel.