Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 18
Dhūpa–Dīpa–Bali Phala Praśna; Nahūṣa–Agastya–Bhṛgu Saṃvāda
Incense, Lamp, and Bali Offerings; the Nahūṣa Dialogue
एवं न दग्ध: स मया भवता च न संशय: । अन्येनाप्यृषिमुख्येन न दग्धो न च पातित:
evaṁ na dagdhaḥ sa mayā bhavatā ca na saṁśayaḥ | anyenāpy ṛṣimukhyena na dagdho na ca pātitaḥ ||
Kaya nga, hindi siya nasunog sa pamamagitan ko, ni sa pamamagitan mo—walang alinlangan dito. Ni wala ring ibang pinakadakilang rishi ang nakapagsunog sa kanya o nakapagpabagsak sa kanya, sapagkat ang gayong biyaya rin ang humahadlang.
अगस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A granted boon can set binding limits even on the power of great sages; ethical action must recognize such constraints rather than assume that spiritual force can override every protection.
Agastya explains to his interlocutor that neither he nor the other person has been able to burn or cast down the subject in question, and that no other eminent sage has succeeded either, because a boon protects him from such punishment.