Shloka 4
Nahūṣa’s Fall Explained: Agastya’s Account to Indra (Śalya-narrated)
इन्द्र रवाच स्वागतं ते महर्षेउस्तु प्रीतो5हं दर्शनात् तव । पाद्यमाचमनीयं च गामर्घ्य च प्रतीच्छ मे
indra uvāca—svāgataṁ te maharṣe; tuṣṭaḥ prīto ’haṁ darśanāt tava | pādyaṁ ācamanīyaṁ ca gām arghyaṁ ca pratīccha me ||
ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର କହିଲେ—“ମହର୍ଷେ! ଆପଣଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ୱାଗତ। ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଦର୍ଶନରେ ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପ୍ରସନ୍ନ। ମୋ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଅର୍ପିତ ପାଦ୍ୟ, ଆଚମନୀୟ, ଅର୍ଘ୍ୟ ଏବଂ ଗୋ-ଦାନ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରନ୍ତୁ।”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights atithi-dharma: honoring a worthy guest—especially a sage—with respectful words and the traditional offerings (pādya, ācamanīya, arghya, and a cow). Even Indra models humility and reverence, showing that ethical conduct is measured by how one receives and serves the virtuous.
Indra greets a great ṛṣi who has arrived, expresses joy at seeing him, and formally offers the standard hospitality items—foot-washing water, sipping water, arghya, and a cow—requesting the sage to accept them.