Shloka 22
Nahūṣa’s Fall Explained: Agastya’s Account to Indra (Śalya-narrated)
उपागम्याब्रुवन् सर्वे दिष्ट्या वर्धसि शरत्रुहन् । हतश्च नहुषः पापो दिष्ट्यागस्त्येन धीमता । दिष्ट्या पापसमाचार: कृत: सर्पो महीतले
upāgamyābruvan sarve diṣṭyā vardhasi śatrūhan | hataś ca nahuṣaḥ pāpo diṣṭyāgastyena dhīmatā | diṣṭyā pāpasamācāraḥ kṛtaḥ sarpo mahītale ||
ସେମାନେ ସମସ୍ତେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଯାଇ କହିଲେ—“ହେ ଶତ୍ରୁହନ! ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଅଭ୍ୟୁଦୟ ହେଉଛି—ଏହା ସୌଭାଗ୍ୟ। ଧୀମାନ ଅଗସ୍ତ୍ୟ ପାପୀ ନହୁଷକୁ ଦଣ୍ଡିତ କରିଛନ୍ତି; ଏବଂ ସେହି ଦୁରାଚାରୀକୁ ପୃଥିବୀରେ ସର୍ପ କରାଯାଇଛି—ଏହା ମଧ୍ୟ ଆମ ପାଇଁ ହର୍ଷ ଓ ସୌଭାଗ୍ୟ।”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that immoral conduct (pāpa-samācāra) leads to downfall and transformation into a degraded state, while the correction of wrongdoing by a wise authority (Agastya) is celebrated as the restoration of dharma and social-cosmic order.
A group approaches Indra and congratulates him, rejoicing that the sinful Nahuṣa has been subdued by the sage Agastya and reduced to the condition of a serpent on earth—an event presented as a fortunate turning point.