Shloka 26
अग्निस्तुति, इन्द्रदर्शन, नहुष-भयवर्णन
Agni-hymn, discovery of Indra, and the Nahuṣa threat
तेजोहरं दृष्टिविषं सुघोरं मा त्वं पश्येर्नहुषं वै कदाचित् । देवाश्व सर्वे नहुष॑ भृशार्ता न पश्चन्ते गूढरूपा श्चरन्त:
tejo-haraṁ dṛṣṭi-viṣaṁ su-ghoraṁ mā tvaṁ paśyer nahuṣaṁ vai kadācit | devāś ca sarve nahuṣe bhṛśārtā na paśyanti gūḍha-rūpāś carantaḥ ||
Indra berkata, “Nahusha merampas tejas orang lain hanya dengan terlihat; pandangannya laksana racun yang mengerikan, dan tabiatnya menjadi amat ganas. Karena itu, jangan sekali-kali memandang Nahusha. Bahkan para dewa, tersiksa olehnya, bergerak dalam penyamaran dan tidak menoleh ke arahnya.”
इन्द्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked arrogance and misuse of power become spiritually and socially toxic: a ruler who turns oppressive harms even the divine order. The verse frames ethical caution—avoid enabling or confronting destructive power in ways that invite harm; seek protection and right counsel.
Indra describes Nahuṣa as dangerously transformed—his very sight drains others’ brilliance and his gaze is like poison. Indra instructs the listener never to look at him, noting that even the gods, tormented by Nahuṣa, move about in disguise and avoid meeting his gaze.