Shloka 4
Marutta’s Sacrifice and Agni’s Embassy (मरुत्त-यज्ञे दूतत्वम्)
ब॒हस्पतिर्वाच मरुत्तमाहुर्मघवन् यक्ष्यमाणं महायज्ञेनोत्तमदक्षिणेन । संवर्तो याजयतीति मे श्रुतं तदिच्छामि न स तं याजयेत,बृहस्पतिजी बोले--मघवन्! लोग कहते हैं कि महाराज मरुत्त उत्तम दक्षिणाओंसे युक्त एक महान् यज्ञ करने जा रहे हैं तथा यह भी मेरे सुननेमें आया है कि संवर्त ही आचार्य होकर वह यज्ञ करायेंगे। परंतु मेरी इच्छा है कि वे उस यज्ञको न कराने पावें
Bṛhaspatir uvāca—Maruttam āhur Maghavan yakṣyamāṇaṁ mahāyajñenottama-dakṣiṇena | Saṁvarto yājayatīti me śrutaṁ tad icchāmi na sa taṁ yājayet ||
Bṛhaspati disse: “Ó Maghavan (Indra), dizem que o rei Marutta está prestes a realizar um grande sacrifício, provido das mais excelentes dádivas rituais. Ouvi também que Saṁvarta servirá como sacerdote oficiante e conduzirá esse rito. Mas é meu desejo que não lhe seja permitido oficiar nesse sacrifício.”
संवर्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how ritual authority and spiritual prestige can become contested: even a divine preceptor like Bṛhaspati expresses a desire to block another priest (Saṁvarta) from officiating. It implicitly warns that rivalry and possessiveness can intrude into sacred duties, raising ethical questions about rightful entitlement versus personal motive.
Bṛhaspati addresses Indra, reporting that King Marutta is preparing a grand sacrifice with rich priestly fees, and that Saṁvarta is expected to officiate. Bṛhaspati then states his wish that Saṁvarta should not be permitted to conduct that sacrifice, setting up a conflict over who will serve as the king’s ritual preceptor.