Shloka 8
च्यवन-यज्ञे अश्विनोः सोमग्रहण-विवादः
Cyavana’s Sacrifice and the Aśvins’ Soma Dispute
अगृलह्लाच्च्यवन: सोममश्रिनोर्देवयोस्तदा । तमिन्द्रो वारयामास गृह्नानं स तयोग्रहम्,महर्षि च्यवनने उस समय दोनों अश्विनीकुमारों-को देनेके लिये सोमरसका भाग हाथमें लिया। उन दोनोंके लिये सोमका भाग ग्रहण करते समय इन्द्रने मुनिको मना किया
agṛhṇāc cyavanaḥ somaṁ aśvinoḥ devayoḥ tadā | tam indro vārayām āsa gṛhṇānaṁ sa tayor graham ||
At that time the great sage Cyavana took in his hand the allotted share of Soma to offer it to the two divine Aśvin twins. As he was taking up that portion for them, Indra tried to restrain the sage—objecting to their receiving a Soma share—thus setting up a conflict between established privilege and the sage’s insistence on rightful inclusion.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension: ritual entitlement and social-divine hierarchy are challenged by a sage’s insistence on fairness and rightful participation. It suggests that spiritual authority and ethical reasoning can confront entrenched privilege, even among the gods.
Cyavana attempts to allocate a Soma share to the Aśvin twins during a sacrificial context. Indra intervenes to stop him, objecting to their receiving that share, thereby initiating a confrontation between Indra’s authority and Cyavana’s resolve.