Shloka 1
Adhyāya 12: Devas’ Petition to Nahūṣa; Bṛhaspati on Śaraṇāgata-Dharma; Indrāṇī’s Strategic Delay
2 ड-ण का द्वादशोड् ध्याय: देवता-नहुष-संवाद
śalya uvāca | kruddhaṃ tu nahuṣaṃ dṛṣṭvā devā ṛṣipurogamāḥ | abruvan devarājānaṃ nahuṣaṃ ghoradarśanam ||
ಶಲ್ಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಯುಧಿಷ್ಠಿರಾ! ಕೋಪದಿಂದ ಉರಿಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ನಹುಷನನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ದೇವತೆಗಳು ಋಷಿಗಳನ್ನು ಮುಂಚಿಟ್ಟು ಅವನ ಬಳಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ, ಭಯಂಕರ ದರ್ಶನವಿದ್ದ ದೇವರಾಜ ನಹುಷನಿಗೆ ಹೇಳಿದರು. ಆಗ ದೇವರೂ ಋಷಿಗಳೂ ಹೀಗೆ ಹೇಳಿದರು—
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power without self-restraint becomes frightening and unstable; therefore the gods seek the guidance and moral authority of sages, implying that righteous counsel (dharma) should govern even the highest sovereignty.
Nahuṣa, acting as devarāja, is seen in a wrathful and fearsome state. The gods, led by the sages, go to him and begin to speak—introducing a dialogue meant to check his conduct and avert the consequences of his anger and arrogance.