Shloka 266
Nahūṣa’s Pride, the Ṛṣi-Borne Palanquin, and the Search for Indra (नहुष-इन्द्राणी-प्रकरणम्)
शक्रं चाधिगमिष्यामि मा भैस्त्वं भद्रमस्तु ते । 'शुभे! यह पापी धर्मको नहीं जानता। अतः महर्षियोंको अपना वाहन बनानेके कारण शीघ्र नीचे गिरेगा। इसके सिवा मैं भी इस दुर्बुद्धि नहुषके विनाशके लिये एक यज्ञ करूँगा। साथ ही इन्द्रका भी पता लगाऊँगा। तुम डरो मत। तुम्हारा कल्याण होगा”
śakraṃ cādhigamiṣyāmi mā bhaiḥ tvaṃ bhadram astu te |
शक्रं चाधिगमिष्यामि मा भैस्त्वं भद्रमस्तु ते। एष पापो धर्मं न वेत्ति; महर्षीन् वाहनत्वेन नियोज्य शीघ्रमेव पतिष्यति। तस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्नहुषस्य विनाशाय यज्ञं करिष्यामि, इन्द्रस्यापि च स्थानं ज्ञास्यामि। मा भैः; तव कल्याणं भविष्यति॥
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Authority and elevation endure only when grounded in dharma. When a ruler becomes arrogant and violates the sanctity of sages and moral law—as Nahūṣa does—his power collapses quickly; reassurance and righteous resolve (including lawful ritual action) are presented as the proper response.
Śalya reassures the listener not to fear and promises to locate Śakra (Indra). He alludes to Nahūṣa’s sinful conduct—making great seers serve as his vehicle—and declares that Nahūṣa will soon fall; he also intends to perform a yajña to bring about Nahūṣa’s destruction and to discover Indra’s whereabouts.