Shloka 15
च्यवन-यज्ञे अश्विनोः सोमग्रहण-विवादः
Cyavana’s Sacrifice and the Aśvins’ Soma Dispute
उस समय देववैद्योंके लिये उत्तम सोमरस ग्रहण करते देख इन्द्रने च्यवन मुनिसे इस प्रकार कहा-- ।। आशभ्यामर्थाय सोम॑ त्वं ग्रहीष्यसि यदि स्वयम् । वज्ं ते प्रहरिष्पामि घोररूपमनुत्तमम्,ब्रह्म! यदि तुम इन दोनोंके लिये स्वयं सोमरस ग्रहण करोगे तो मैं तुमपर अपना परम उत्तम भयंकर वज्र छोड़ दूँगा
tadā devavaidyeṣu śreṣṭhaṃ somarasaṃ gṛhṇatsu dṛṣṭvā indraś cyavanaṃ munim idaṃ vacanam abravīt— | aśvibhyām arthāya somaṃ tvaṃ grahīṣyasi yadi svayam | vajraṃ te prahariṣyāmi ghorarūpam anuttamam, brahman ||
Seeing the finest Soma being taken for the divine physicians, Indra addressed the sage Cyavana: “If you yourself take Soma on behalf of the Aśvins, I will hurl at you my unrivalled, terrifying thunderbolt, O Brahmin.” The scene frames a moral conflict between established divine privilege and the sage’s insistence on just inclusion for the Aśvins.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension: entrenched authority (Indra guarding privilege over Soma) versus equitable recognition (Cyavana acting for the Aśvins). It suggests that ritual entitlement and honor should align with justice, not mere power.
During a Soma-related ritual context, Cyavana is about to take Soma on behalf of the Aśvins (divine physicians). Indra, objecting to their participation, threatens Cyavana with his thunderbolt to prevent the act.