Shloka 16

Nahuṣa Abhiṣeka and the Crisis of Restraint (नहुषाभिषेकः—दमभ्रंशः)

Devanagari script

मारुत: सुरभिववाति मनोज्ञ: सुखशीतल: । एवं च क्रीडतस्तस्य नहुषस्य दुरात्मन:

Transliteration

mārutaḥ surabhivavāti manojñaḥ sukhaśītalaḥ | evaṃ ca krīḍatas tasya nahuṣasya durātmanāḥ

Translation

సుగంధమయమైన గాలి వీచుచుండెను—మనోహరముగా, సుఖదముగా, శీతలముగా. ఈ విధంగా సౌఖ్యములో క్రీడించుచున్న ఆ దురాత్మ నహుషుని (కాలము ముందుకు సాగెను).

Word by Word

मारुतःthe wind

सुरभिःfragrant

ववातिblows

मनोज्ञःpleasant, delightful

सुखशीतलःpleasantly cool

एवंthus, in this manner

चand

क्रीडतःof (him) playing/sporting

तस्यof him, his

नहुषस्यof Nahusha

दुरात्मनःof the wicked-souled (one)

Speaker

शल्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

Marut (wind/breeze)

Nahusha

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical contrast between pleasant external circumstances and a corrupted inner disposition: comfort and beauty do not justify unrighteous conduct, and indulgence without dharma tends toward downfall.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śalya describes the setting around Nahusha: a sweet, cool, fragrant breeze accompanies Nahusha’s carefree enjoyment, serving as narrative atmosphere while emphasizing that Nahusha—despite such pleasant surroundings—is characterized as durātman (wicked-minded).