Adhyāya 12: Devas’ Petition to Nahūṣa; Bṛhaspati on Śaraṇāgata-Dharma; Indrāṇī’s Strategic Delay
एवमेतद् द्विजश्रेष्ठ देवी चेयं प्रसाद्यताम् ततः: समस्ता इन्द्राणीं देवाश्चाग्निपुरोगमा: । ऊचुर्वचनमव्यग्रा लोकानां हितकाम्यया
evam etad dvijaśreṣṭha devī ceyaṁ prasādyatām tataḥ samastā indrāṇīṁ devāś cāgnipurogamāḥ | ūcur vacanam avyagrā lokānāṁ hitakāmyayā ||
‘असेच होवो, हे द्विजश्रेष्ठ! या देवीला प्रसन्न करा.’ त्यानंतर अग्नीला अग्रभागी ठेवून सर्व देव इंद्राणीपाशी गेले आणि सर्व लोकांच्या हितासाठी, अव्यग्र मनाने, शांतपणे तिला म्हणाले।
शल्य उवाच
The verse highlights a dharmic method of resolving tension: seek the welfare of all worlds (lokānāṁ hita) through calm, focused speech and conciliatory action—propitiating the appropriate divine power rather than acting from agitation.
Śalya reports that a Brahmin is advised to appease a goddess; afterward, the gods led by Agni approach Indrāṇī (Śacī) and address her serenely, motivated by the common good of all worlds.