Shloka 16
नहुषोपाख्यानम्—दीपदान-धूप-बलीकर्म-प्रशंसा
Nahūṣa Episode and the Commendation of Lamp-Gifting and Household Offerings
निमीलय स्वनयने जटां यावद् विशामि ते । स्थाणुभूतस्य तस्याथ जटां प्राविशदच्युत:
nimīlaya svanayane jaṭāṁ yāvad viśāmi te | sthāṇubhūtasya tasyātha jaṭāṁ prāviśad acyutaḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Muni, ipikit mo muna ang iyong mga mata, hanggang sa makapasok ako sa iyong mga buhol na buhok.” Nang ipinikit ng pantas ang mga mata at tumindig na tila haliging kahoy, ang matatag at di lumalabag sa wastong kaugalian ay pumasok sa kanyang mga jata—taglay ang hangaring ibagsak ang hari mula sa langit. At noon ding sandali, dumating si Haring Nahusha, na wari’y si Indra, sa rishi upang gawin siyang sasakyan o tagapasan (tagahila) ng kanyang karwahe.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power without humility turns into adharma: the king’s desire to use a rishi as a mere bearer signals arrogance, and the narrative frames such overreach as a cause of inevitable downfall, while ascetic restraint and steadfast adherence to propriety remain the ethical ideal.
A sage is asked to close his eyes so another can enter his matted locks; the sage becomes motionless like a pillar. At that moment King Nahusha arrives, intending to make the rishi his vehicle, setting up the conflict that leads to Nahusha’s humiliation and fall.