Shloka 27

Nahūṣa’s Pride, the Ṛṣi-Borne Palanquin, and the Search for Indra (नहुष-इन्द्राणी-प्रकरणम्)

Devanagari script

ततः प्रज्वाल्य विधिवज्जुहाव परमं हवि:

Transliteration

tataḥ prajvālya vidhivad juhāva paramaṃ haviḥ | tadanantaraṃ mahātejasvī bṛhaspatine devarāja-kī prāptaye vidhpūrvakam agniṃ prajvālya tasmin uttama-haviṣyasyāhutiṃ dadau | rājan! agnim āhutiṃ dattvā sa agnidevam uvāca—“tvam indradevasya padaṃ anviccha” iti |

Translation

ତାପରେ ସେ ବିଧିମତେ ଅଗ୍ନି ପ୍ରଜ୍ୱଳିତ କରି ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ହବିଷ୍ୟ ଆହୁତି ଦେଲେ। ରାଜନ, ଆହୁତି ଦେଇ ସେ ଅଗ୍ନିଦେବଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ—“ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରଙ୍କ ଅବସ୍ଥାନ ଖୋଜି ଦେଖ।”

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• प्रज्वाल्य: having kindled
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √ज्वल्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable; prior action

• विधिवत्: according to rule, duly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत्

• जुहाव: offered (as oblation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person singular, Parasmaipada

• परमम्: supreme, excellent
• परमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular

• हविः: oblation, sacrificial offering
• हविः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस्
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular (form identical to nominative)

Speaker

शल्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śalya
• Agni (Agnideva)
• Indra (Devarāja)
• Bṛhaspati
• havis (oblation)
• sacrificial fire (agni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights vidhivat (rule-governed) action: when seeking higher counsel or divine assistance, one should proceed with discipline, purity of method, and reverence—using proper means rather than haste or coercion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śalya describes a ritual act: the sacred fire is kindled and an excellent oblation is offered. After the offering, Agni is requested to locate Indra (the king of the gods), indicating a quest for divine contact or guidance through the sanctioned medium of sacrifice.