तस्य वै यजमानस्य पशुमिन्द्रो जहार ह।प्रणष्टे तु पशौ विप्रो राजानमिदमब्रवीत्।।।।
tasya vai yajamānasya paśum indro jahāra ha | praṇaṣṭe tu paśau vipro rājānam idam abravīt ||
Когда царь, как совершающий яджну, приступил к жертвоприношению, Индра (Indra) похитил жертвенное животное. И когда жертва исчезла, жрец сказал царю такие слова.
While he was performing the sacrifice Indra stole away the sacrificial animal. The animal could not be traced. Hence the priest said to the king:
Dharma is shown as fragile when ritual order is disrupted; the community must respond through proper counsel and corrective action rather than abandoning the rite.
Indra removes the sacrificial victim; the priest prepares to advise the king on how to proceed so the sacrifice is not ruined.
Priestly responsibility (ṛtvik-dharma): the priest promptly guides the king to restore ritual continuity.