Shloka 3
Marutta’s Sacrifice and Agni’s Embassy (मरुत्त-यज्ञे दूतत्वम्)
इन्द्र बवाच कुतो दुःखं मानसं देहजं वा पाण्ड्विंवर्णश्व॒ कुतस्त्वमद्य । आचक्ष्व मे ब्राह्मण यावदेतान् निहन्मि सर्वास्तव दुःखकर्तुन्
indra uvāca—kuto duḥkhaṁ mānasaṁ dehajaṁ vā pāṇḍu-varṇaś ca kutas tvam adya? ācakṣva me brāhmaṇa yāvad etān nihannmi sarvān tava duḥkha-kartṝn.
ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର କହିଲେ— ହେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ! ଏ ଦୁଃଖ ମନର ନା ଦେହର— କେଉଁଠୁ ଆସିଲା? ଆଜି ତୁମେ କାହିଁକି ଫିକା ଓ ବିଷଣ୍ଣ? ମୋତେ କୁହ; ଯେମାନେ ତୁମକୁ ଦୁଃଖ ଦେଇଛନ୍ତି, ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ମୁଁ ତୁରନ୍ତ ନିହତ କରିଦେବି।
संवर्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights compassionate concern for another’s suffering and the impulse to protect the afflicted; ethically, it also raises the question of whether force should be used immediately or only after understanding the true cause of distress.
Indra addresses a brāhmaṇa who appears pale and sorrowful, asking whether the pain is mental or physical and urging him to identify the cause, promising to destroy those responsible for his grief.