Shloka 3
Plakṣāvataraṇa–Yamunā Tīrtha and Prajāpati’s Vedī
Kurukṣetra Threshold
देशश्व नाहुषस्थायं यज्वन: पुण्यकर्मण:,कुन्तीनन्दन! यह नहुषकुमार ययातिका देश है, जो पुण्यकर्मा, याज्ञिक, महातेजस्वी और सार्वभौम सम्राट थे। वे सदा इन्द्रके साथ ईर्ष्या रखते थे। यहाँ यह उन्हींकी यज्ञभूमि है
deśo ’yaṃ nāhuṣasthāyaṃ yajvanaḥ puṇyakarmaṇaḥ | kuntīnandana! yaḥ nahuṣakumāro yayātir nāma deśaḥ, yaḥ puṇyakarmā yājñiko mahātejasvī sārvabhaumaḥ samrāṭ | sa sadā indreṇa saha īrṣyāṃ cakāra | eṣā tasyaiva yajñabhūmiḥ ||
Lomaśa said: “O son of Kuntī, this is the land associated with Nahusha’s line—belonging to Yayāti, the son of Nahusha—who was renowned for meritorious deeds, devoted to sacrifice, mighty in splendor, and a universal sovereign. Yet he continually harbored jealousy toward Indra. This very place is his sacrificial ground.”
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a powerful, virtuous, and ritually accomplished king can fall ethically through envy; jealousy toward those above oneself (here, Indra) is presented as a moral blemish that undermines merit and right kingship.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ forest journey, the sage Lomaśa identifies a sacred location and explains its association with King Yayāti (son of Nahusha), noting his greatness and his persistent rivalry/jealousy toward Indra, and pointing out that this is Yayāti’s sacrificial site.