Nimi’s Disembodied Liberation and the Rise of the Mithilā (Videha) Dynasty
श्रीशुक उवाच निमिरिक्ष्वाकुतनयो वसिष्ठमवृतर्त्विजम् । आरभ्य सत्रं सोऽप्याह शक्रेण प्राग्वृतोऽस्मि भो: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca nimir ikṣvāku-tanayo vasiṣṭham avṛtartvijam ārabhya satraṁ so ’py āha śakreṇa prāg vṛto ’smi bhoḥ
Śrī Śukadeva berkata: Nimi, putra Ikṣvāku, setelah memulai upacara kurban, memohon resi agung Vasiṣṭha menjadi pendeta utama. Namun Vasiṣṭha menjawab, “Wahai Raja Nimi, aku telah lebih dahulu menerima tugas yang sama dalam yajña yang dimulai oleh Dewa Indra.”
Because Vasiṣṭha stated he had already been previously engaged by Śakra (Indra) and was committed elsewhere.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is speaking, narrating the history of King Nimi (of the Ikṣvāku dynasty) within the Bhagavata’s royal genealogies and teachings on dharma.
It highlights integrity in commitments—honoring prior obligations and acting responsibly even when new, prestigious requests arise.