Shloka 5
Marutta–Indra Rivalry and Bṛhaspati’s Priestly Refusal (मरुत्तेन्द्रस्पर्धा—बृहस्पतेः पौरोहित्यनिश्चयः)
तावतिस्पर्थिनौ राजन् पृथगास्तां परस्परम् । बृहस्पति: स संवर्त बाधते सम पुन: पुन:
tāvatī spardhinau rājan pṛthag āstāṃ parasparam | bṛhaspatiḥ sa saṃvartaṃ bādhate sma punaḥ punaḥ ||
ข้าแต่พระราชา สองพี่น้องนั้นอยู่แยกกัน แต่กลับเต็มไปด้วยความชิงดีชิงเด่นต่อกัน พฤหัสบดีได้รังแกน้องชายคือสัมวรรตอยู่ครั้งแล้วครั้งเล่า
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how rivalry and envy within a family can lead to repeated wrongdoing, especially when a powerful elder misuses status to trouble a younger. It frames an ethical warning: authority should protect, not oppress, and competitiveness unchecked becomes adharma.
Vyāsa tells the king that the two brothers, Bṛhaspati and Saṃvarta, lived separately due to mutual rivalry, and that Bṛhaspati repeatedly harassed Saṃvarta. This sets up the background tension for the ensuing Saṃvarta–Marutta episode.