Shloka 52
Varuṇābhiṣeka–Agni-anveṣaṇa–Kaubera-tīrtha
Varuṇa’s Consecration; Search for Agni; Kaubera Sacred Site
गरुडने विचित्र पंखोंसे सुशोभित अपना प्रिय पुत्र मयूर भेंट किया। अरुणने लाल शिखावाले अपने पुत्र ताम्रचूड (मुर्ग)-को समर्पित किया, जिसका पैर ही आयुध था ।।
nāgaṃ tu varuṇo rājā balavīryasamanvitam | kṛṣṇājinaṃ tato brahmā brahmaṇyāya dadau prabhuḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Raja Varuṇa mempersembahkan seekor ular nāga yang dikurniai kekuatan dan keberanian yang besar. Kemudian Tuhan Brahmā menganugerahkan sehelai kulit kijang hitam kepada penerima yang saleh, yang teguh berbakti kepada kaum Brahmana—sebagai tanda penghormatan melalui anugerah suci dan pengiktirafan akan watak yang berpegang pada dharma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic recognition through appropriate gifts: power (a formidable nāga) is granted by a royal-divine authority, while a sacred emblem of Brahminical/ascetic discipline (kṛṣṇājina) is bestowed upon one characterized as brahmaṇya—suggesting that honor should match virtue and disposition.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, divine figures distribute notable gifts: Varuṇa presents a mighty serpent, and Brahmā follows by giving a black antelope-skin to a recipient praised as brahmaṇya, indicating a sequence of ceremonial bestowals and the conferral of status or favor.