Shloka 2
Nahūṣa’s Pride, the Ṛṣi-Borne Palanquin, and the Search for Indra (नहुष-इन्द्राणी-प्रकरणम्)
विवर्धितश्न ऋषिभिह॑व्यकव्यैशक्ष भाविनि । नीतिमत्र विधास्यामि देवि तां कर्तुमहसि,'भामिनि! ऋषियोंने हव्य और कव्य देकर उसकी शक्तिको बहुत बढ़ा दिया है। अतः मैं यहाँ नीतिसे काम लूँगा। देवि! तुम उसी नीतिका पालन करो
vivardhitaś ca ṛṣibhir havyakavyaiḥ śaktir bhāvini | nītim atra vidhāsyāmi devi tāṃ kartum arhasi ||
Śalya berkata: “Wahai wanita yang berapi, para ṛṣi telah memperbesar kekuatan Nahuṣa dengan persembahan havya dan kavya (untuk para dewa dan leluhur). Maka di sini aku akan bertindak menurut nīti—dasar kebijakan dan strategi yang berhemah. Wahai permaisuri, engkau juga hendaklah mengikuti jalan itu.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
When an opponent’s strength is amplified by ritual or external support, one should respond not with rash force but with nīti—measured, ethical prudence and strategic counsel—and adhere steadily to that wise course.
Śalya addresses a lady (Devi/Bhāvini), noting that certain sages have enhanced someone’s power through havya and kavya offerings; he therefore proposes to act through policy and strategy, urging her to follow the same prudent approach.