Shloka 163
Nakula’s Declaration and the Uñchavṛtti Brāhmaṇa’s Superior Merit (Āśvamedhika Parva, Adhyāya 92)
प्रोवाच वाक््यं स तदा प्रसाद्य शिरसा मुनीन् | उनके ऐसा कहनेपर प्रतापी अगस्त्य उन मुनियोंकों सिरसे प्रणाम करके उन्हें राजी करते हुए इस प्रकार बोले--
provāca vākyam sa tadā prasādya śirasā munīn |
Lalu dia pun bertutur, setelah menenangkan para resi terlebih dahulu. Agastya yang perkasa menundukkan kepala memberi hormat kepada para muni itu, lalu menyapa mereka dengan kata-kata pendamai—menegakkan kembali keharmonian sebelum berkata atau bertindak.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical speech grounded in humility: before asserting oneself or responding, one should first pacify tensions and honor those worthy of respect—here, by bowing to the sages—so that words arise from harmony rather than pride or conflict.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that, after the sages speak, the powerful Agastya respectfully bows his head to them, wins their goodwill, and then begins to speak—signaling a transition to Agastya’s reply delivered in a conciliatory manner.