Shloka 16
Dhūpa–Dīpa–Bali Phala Praśna; Nahūṣa–Agastya–Bhṛgu Saṃvāda
Incense, Lamp, and Bali Offerings; the Nahūṣa Dialogue
“महामुने! देवराज बनकर बैठे हुए इस दुर्बुद्धि नहुषके अत्याचारको हमलोग किसलिये सह रहे हैं! ।।
agastya uvāca | katham eṣa mayā śakyaḥ śaptuṁ yasya mahāmune | varadena varo datto bhavato viditaś ca saḥ ||
Agastya berkata: “Wahai resi agung, bagaimana mungkin aku mengutuk Nahusha ini, ketika Brahma, Sang Pemberi anugerah, telah menganugerahkan kepadanya sebuah boon? Bahwa ia telah menerima anugerah itu pun engkau ketahui.”
अगस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when wrongdoing is evident, corrective action must respect higher moral and cosmic constraints—such as boons granted by a legitimate authority. Power (like a sage’s curse) is to be used with restraint and awareness of prior grants and their implications.
Agastya responds to concern about Nahusha’s oppressive conduct while seated as king of the gods. He explains his hesitation: Nahusha has received a boon from Brahmā, and because that boon is known and binding, Agastya questions how he can simply curse him.