Shloka 26
Nahūṣa’s Pride, the Ṛṣi-Borne Palanquin, and the Search for Indra (नहुष-इन्द्राणी-प्रकरणम्)
अधर्मज्ञो महर्षीणां वाहनाच्च ततः शुभे । इष्टिं चाहं करिष्यामि विनाशायास्य दुर्मते:
adharmajño maharṣīṇāṁ vāhanācca tataḥ śubhe | iṣṭiṁ cāhaṁ kariṣyāmi vināśāyāsya durmateḥ ||
ଶଲ୍ୟ କହିଲେ—ଶୁଭେ, ଏ ଅଧର୍ମଜ୍ଞ; ମହର୍ଷିମାନଙ୍କର ବାହନ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅପହରଣ କରିଛି। ତେଣୁ ଏହି ଦୁର୍ମତିର ବିନାଶ ପାଇଁ ମୁଁ ଇଷ୍ଟି ଯଜ୍ଞ କରିବି।
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical failure (ignorance of dharma and disrespect toward sages) as a grave offense that invites deliberate counteraction; it also shows how ritual action (iṣṭi) can be conceived as morally charged—used not only for welfare but as a response to wrongdoing.
Śalya addresses an auspicious lady and condemns a certain person as adharma-minded, citing the taking of the great seers’ conveyance as evidence; he then declares his intention to perform an iṣṭi specifically aimed at bringing about that person’s destruction.