Shloka 20
Dhūpa–Dīpa–Bali Phala Praśna; Nahūṣa–Agastya–Bhṛgu Saṃvāda
Incense, Lamp, and Bali Offerings; the Nahūṣa Dialogue
प्रायच्छत वरं देव: प्रजानां दुःखकारणम् । द्विजेष्वधर्मयुक्तानि स करोति नराधम:
prāyacchata varaṃ devaḥ prajānāṃ duḥkha-kāraṇam | dvijeṣv adharma-yuktāni sa karoti narādhamaḥ ||
Anugerah yang dahulu diberikan dewa Brahma justru menjadi sebab penderitaan bagi rakyat. Orang hina itu kini bertindak terhadap para dwija (Brahmana) dengan cara-cara yang berpaut pada adharma.
अगस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A boon or power is not inherently beneficial; when wielded without dharma it turns into a cause of public suffering. Ethical conduct—especially restraint and proper regard for the twice-born and social norms—is presented as the true measure of worth.
Agastya is describing a person who, despite having received a divine boon, has become oppressive to the people and is acting unrighteously toward Brahmins. The verse frames this as moral degeneration: divine favor has been misused, producing harm and adharma.