Shloka 16
Nahūṣa’s Pride, the Ṛṣi-Borne Palanquin, and the Search for Indra (नहुष-इन्द्राणी-प्रकरणम्)
नहुष उवाच अपूर्व वाहनमिदं त्वयोक्तं वरवर्णिनि । दृढं मे रुचितं देवि त्वद्वशो5स्मि वरानने
Nahuṣa uvāca: apūrva-vāhanam idaṁ tvayoktaṁ vara-varṇini | dṛḍhaṁ me rucitaṁ devi tvad-vaśo 'smi varānane ||
Nahuṣa berkata: “Wahai wanita berkulit indah, kenderaan yang engkau sebut itu sungguh belum pernah ada. Wahai dewi, ia telah benar-benar memikat hatiku. Wahai yang berwajah jelita, aku berada di bawah pengaruhmu.”
नहुष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how persuasive speech and fascination can quickly place a person “under another’s sway,” implying an ethical caution: attraction and novelty can weaken discernment and self-mastery.
Nahuṣa responds to a woman’s description of an extraordinary conveyance, expresses strong approval, and declares that he is now under her influence, signaling his growing susceptibility to her words and presence.