Shloka 18
Nahūṣa’s Fall Explained: Agastya’s Account to Indra (Śalya-narrated)
एवं भ्रष्टो दुरात्मा स देवराज्यादरिंदम । दिष्ट्या वर्धामहे शक्र हतो ब्राह्मणकण्टक:
evaṁ bhraṣṭo durātmā sa devarājyād arindama | diṣṭyā vardhāmahe śakra hato brāhmaṇakaṇṭakaḥ ||
“ଏହିପରି ସେ ଦୁରାତ୍ମା ଦେବରାଜ୍ୟରୁ ଭ୍ରଷ୍ଟ ହୋଇ ତଳକୁ ପତିତ କରାଗଲା। ଦିଷ୍ଟିରେ, ହେ ଶକ୍ର! ଆମର ବୃଦ୍ଧି ହେଉଛି—କାରଣ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନଙ୍କର କଣ୍ଟକ ସେ ନିହତ ହୋଇଛି।”
अगस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse affirms a dharmic principle: those who become a ‘thorn’ to brāhmaṇas and violate sacred-social order ultimately fall from power, while the restoration of justice is seen as a cause for communal well-being and prosperity.
Agastya addresses Śakra (Indra), declaring that a wicked figure has been cast down from divine sovereignty and that it is fortunate for all that this oppressor of brāhmaṇas has been slain, implying the re-establishment of moral and cosmic order.