Shloka 12
Dhūpa–Dīpa–Bali Phala Praśna; Nahūṣa–Agastya–Bhṛgu Saṃvāda
Incense, Lamp, and Bali Offerings; the Nahūṣa Dialogue
तस्य वाहयत: कालो मुनिमुख्यांस्तपो धनान् । अहंकाराभिभूतस्य सुमहानभ्यवर्तत,वे अहंकारसे अभिभूत होकर क्रमश: सभी श्रेष्ठ तपस्वी मुनियोंको अपने रथमें जोतने लगे। ऐसा करते हुए राजाका दीर्घकाल व्यतीत हो गया
tasya vāhayataḥ kālo munimukhyāṁs tapodhanān | ahaṅkārābhibhūtasya sumahān abhyavartata ||
तस्यैवं वाहयतः अहंकाराभिभूतस्य मुनिमुख्यान् तपोधनान् रथे योजयतः सुमहान् कालोऽभ्यवर्तत॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Pride (ahaṅkāra) can blind a ruler into committing grave adharma—such as humiliating and exploiting the spiritually eminent—and, when not corrected, such misconduct can continue for a long time, deepening moral downfall.
Bhishma describes a king, overcome by ego, repeatedly yoking the foremost ascetic sages to his chariot and driving them; as he persists in this act, a very long period of time passes.