Shloka 22
Agni’s Withdrawal to the Forest and Identification with Āṅgirasa (अग्न्याङ्गिरस-इतिहासः)
इन्द्रोडप्येषां प्रणमते कि पुनर्मानवो भुवि | अवलिप्ते न जानीषे वृद्धानां न श्रुतं त्वया
indro 'py eṣāṁ praṇamate ki punaḥ mānavo bhuvi | avalipte na jānīṣe vṛddhānāṁ na śrutaṁ tvayā ||
Sang brāhmaṇa berkata, “Bahkan Indra pun menunduk kepada para sesepuh seperti itu—apalagi manusia biasa di bumi! Namun engkau, mabuk oleh keangkuhan, tidak mengerti; engkau tidak mengindahkan ajaran para tua.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Humility and reverence toward elders are marks of dharma; pride blinds one to instruction, and even the highest (Indra) models respectful conduct.
A brāhmaṇa rebukes someone for arrogance, arguing that if Indra himself bows to elders, a human should certainly do so; the listener is faulted for ignoring elders’ counsel.