Shloka 16
कालेयास्तु यथा राजन सुरै: सर्वैर्निषूदिता: । अगस्त्याद् वरमासाद्य तनन््मे निगदत: शूणु,राजन! सब देवताओंने अगस्त्यसे वर पाकर जिस प्रकार कालेय नामक दैत्योंका संहार किया, वह बता रहा हूँ, सुनो--
kāleyās tu yathā rājan suraiḥ sarvair niṣūditāḥ | agastyād varam āsādya tan me nigadataḥ śṛṇu rājan ||
Lomaśa said: “O King, listen as I recount how the Daityas known as the Kāleyas were slain by all the gods, after obtaining a boon through Agastya. Hear from me the account of that destruction and its cause.”
लोमश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic lesson through narrative: when destructive forces threaten cosmic order, the righteous may seek lawful, wise means (here, a boon mediated through the sage Agastya) to restore balance. It also highlights the ethical weight of boons—power is effective when aligned with protection of the world rather than personal vengeance.
Lomaśa begins a new episode addressed to the king, announcing that he will explain how the gods, after obtaining a boon connected with the sage Agastya, were able to destroy the Daityas called the Kāleyas. This verse serves as the introductory lead-in to the detailed account that follows.