Shloka 12
Marutta’s Sacrifice and Agni’s Embassy (मरुत्त-यज्ञे दूतत्वम्)
अग्निर्वाच आसन सलिल पाद्यं प्रतिनन्दामि तेडनघ । इन्द्रेण तु समादिदष्टं विद्धि मां दूतमागतम्
agniḥ uvāca—āsana-salila-pādyaṁ pratinandāmi te ’n-agha | indreṇa tu samādiṣṭaṁ viddhi māṁ dūtam āgatam ||
अग्नि ने कहा—निष्पाप नरेश! आपके दिए हुए आसन, जल और पाद्य को मैं कृतज्ञतापूर्वक स्वीकार करता हूँ। जानिए, इन्द्र की आज्ञा से मैं उनका दूत बनकर आपके पास आया हूँ।
मरुत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic hospitality: honoring a guest with traditional offerings (seat, water, foot-washing) is righteous conduct, and even divine beings acknowledge such respect. It also underscores the ethical weight of a messenger’s role—one speaks with the authority of the sender.
Agni addresses King Marutta, accepting the king’s formal welcome and then revealing his purpose: he has arrived as Indra’s envoy, carrying Indra’s message and acting under Indra’s commission.