Shloka 253
नहुषोपाख्यानम्—दीपदान-धूप-बलीकर्म-प्रशंसा
Nahūṣa Episode and the Commendation of Lamp-Gifting and Household Offerings
अदृष्टेनाथ भुगुणा भूतले भरतर्षभ । भरतश्रेष्ठ! भूगु नहुषको दिखायी नहीं दे रहे थे। उनके इस प्रकार शाप देनेपर नहुष सर्प होकर पृथ्वीपर गिरने लगे
adṛṣṭenātha bhṛguṇā bhūtale bharatarṣabha | tasmād ayaṃ punaḥ śakro devarājye ’bhiṣicyatām ||
Bhīṣma berkata: Wahai yang utama di antara keturunan Bharata! Ketika resi Bhṛgu tak lagi tampak di muka bumi, dan karena kutuknya Nahusha jatuh ke tanah menjadi seekor ular, maka (para dewa berkata): “Karena itu, Śakra hendaklah kembali ditahbiskan atas kerajaan para dewa. Sebab tanpa raja, tatanan hidup tak dapat tegak di mana pun; maka pulihkan Indra yang dahulu ke jabatan penguasa para dewa.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores the dharmic necessity of legitimate rulership: society (and even the divine realm) cannot function without a recognized king, so rightful authority should be restored through proper consecration.
Bhishma recounts a moment after Bhṛgu is no longer present on earth, leading to the conclusion that Indra (Śakra) should be reinstalled as king of the gods through abhiṣeka, emphasizing the practical need for governance.