Shloka 167
यः पुरुष: स पर्जन्यो यो<श्वः सोडग्निर्य ऋषभस्त्वया पथि गच्छता दृष्ट: स ऐरावतो नागराट्,“जो पुरुष था, वह पर्जन्य (इन्द्र) है। जो अश्व था वह अग्नि है। इधरसे जाते समय मार्गमें तुमने जिस बैलको देखा था, वह नागराज ऐरावत हैं
yaḥ puruṣaḥ sa parjanyo yo ’śvaḥ so ’gnir ya ṛṣabhas tvayā pathi gacchatā dṛṣṭaḥ sa airāvato nāgarāṭ
Rama said: “The man you saw was Parjanya (Indra) in disguise; the horse was Agni; and the bull you noticed on the road as you travelled was Airāvata, the king of serpents. Thus, what appeared ordinary was in truth divine—revealing that the world often tests and guides travellers through hidden forms.”
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that divine forces may appear in ordinary or deceptive forms; discernment and humility are needed, since encounters on one’s path can be tests, omens, or guidance from higher powers.
Rama identifies earlier-seen figures: the ‘man’ is Parjanya/Indra, the ‘horse’ is Agni, and the ‘bull’ seen on the road is Airāvata, described here as the king of nāgas—revealing the true identities behind the appearances.