Shloka 26
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 13: Śacī’s Delay, Deva-Counsel, and Indra’s Purification
प्रयता च निशां देवीमुपातिषछत तत्र सा | पतिव्रतात्वात् सत्येन सोपश्रुतिमथाकरोत्,ऐसा कहकर शचीने मन और इन्द्रियोंको संयममें रखकर रात्रि देवीकी उपासना की। पतिव्रता तथा सत्यपरायणा होनेके कारण उन्होंने उपश्रुति नामवाली रात्रिदेवीका आवाहन किया और उनसे कहा--'देवि! जहाँ देवराज इन्द्र हों, वह स्थान मुझे दिखाइये। सत्यका सत्यसे ही दर्शन होता है”
prayatā ca niśāṃ devīm upātiṣṭhat tatra sā | pativratātvāt satyena sopāśrutim athākarot |
Disse Nahuṣa: “Com a mente e os sentidos disciplinados, ela (Śacī) venerou a deusa Noite. Por ser firme na fidelidade conjugal e devotada à verdade, invocou a deusa noturna chamada Upāśruti. Então lhe disse: ‘Ó Deusa, mostra-me o lugar onde está Indra, senhor dos deuses. A verdade só é vista pela verdade.’”
नहुष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links spiritual efficacy to ethical integrity: disciplined worship grounded in satya (truthfulness) and pativratā-dharma is portrayed as powerful enough to invoke divine aid. It also states a moral epistemology—truth is attained and recognized only through truth.
Śacī, seeking Indra, practices self-restraint and worships the Night-goddess. Because of her fidelity and truthfulness, she successfully invokes the Night-goddess Upāśruti and asks her to reveal where Indra is hidden.