Shloka 6
Marutta Seeks a Priest: Bṛhaspati’s Refusal and Nārada’s Guidance to Saṃvarta
Chapter 6
ब॒हस्पतिर्वाच न कामये याजयितु त्वामहं पृथिवीपते । वृतो5स्मि देवराजेन प्रतिज्ञातं च तस्य मे
bṛhaspatir uvāca na kāmaye yājayituṁ tvām ahaṁ pṛthivīpate | vṛto 'smi devarājena pratijñātaṁ ca tasya me ||
बृहस्पति बोले—“हे पृथ्वीपति! मैं तुम्हारा यज्ञ कराना नहीं चाहता। देवराज इन्द्र ने मुझे अपना पुरोहित चुन लिया है और मैंने भी उनके प्रति प्रतिज्ञा कर रखी है।”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as fidelity to one’s pledged word (pratijñā). Even when approached by a king, a priest must honor prior commitments and avoid violating an oath made to another patron.
Bṛhaspati tells the king (addressed as pṛthivīpati) that he will not conduct the king’s sacrifice because Indra has already appointed him as his priest and Bṛhaspati has promised Indra to serve him.