Shloka 31
Nahūṣa’s Pride, the Ṛṣi-Borne Palanquin, and the Search for Indra (नहुष-इन्द्राणी-प्रकरणम्)
अग्निर्वाच बृहस्पते न पश्यामि देवराजमिह क्वचित् । आप: शेषता: सदा चाप: प्रवेष्टं नोत्सहाम्पयहम्
agnir uvāca bṛhaspate na paśyāmi devarājam iha kvacit | āpaḥ śeṣatāḥ sadā cāpaḥ praveṣṭuṃ notsahāmy aham ||
Agni berkata, “Wahai Bṛhaspati, aku tidak melihat raja para dewa di mana-mana di sini. Hanya air yang tinggal—itulah satu-satunya tempat yang belum diselidiki. Namun aku tidak berani memasuki air.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even powerful beings have inherent limits tied to their nature; discernment includes recognizing where one’s capacity ends, rather than forcing an action that contradicts one’s essential constitution.
Agni reports to Bṛhaspati that Indra cannot be found anywhere; only the waters remain as the unsearched refuge, but Agni hesitates because entering water is contrary to Agni’s nature and power.