Shloka 16
Dhūpa–Dīpa–Bali Phala Praśna; Nahūṣa–Agastya–Bhṛgu Saṃvāda
Incense, Lamp, and Bali Offerings; the Nahūṣa Dialogue
“महामुने! देवराज बनकर बैठे हुए इस दुर्बुद्धि नहुषके अत्याचारको हमलोग किसलिये सह रहे हैं! ।।
agastya uvāca | katham eṣa mayā śakyaḥ śaptuṁ yasya mahāmune | varadena varo datto bhavato viditaś ca saḥ ||
अगस्त्य उवाच—महामुने, कथमेष नहुषो मया शप्तुं शक्यः? वरदेन ब्रह्मणा अस्मै वरः प्रदत्तः। स च वरः प्राप्त इति भवतोऽपि विदितमेव।
अगस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when wrongdoing is evident, corrective action must respect higher moral and cosmic constraints—such as boons granted by a legitimate authority. Power (like a sage’s curse) is to be used with restraint and awareness of prior grants and their implications.
Agastya responds to concern about Nahusha’s oppressive conduct while seated as king of the gods. He explains his hesitation: Nahusha has received a boon from Brahmā, and because that boon is known and binding, Agastya questions how he can simply curse him.