Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 20
नहुषोपाख्यानम्—दीपदान-धूप-बलीकर्म-प्रशंसा
Nahūṣa Episode and the Commendation of Lamp-Gifting and Household Offerings
भगुस्तस्य जटान्तस्थो बभूव हृषितो भृशम् | न चापि दर्शनं तस्य चकार स भृगुस्तदा,यह देख उनकी जटाके भीतर बैठे हुए भृगु बहुत प्रसन्न हुए। उस समय भृगुने नहुषका साक्षात्कार नहीं किया
bhagus tasya jaṭānta-stho babhūva hṛṣito bhṛśam | na cāpi darśanaṁ tasya cakāra sa bhṛgus tadā ||
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: Si Bhṛgu, na nakaupo sa loob ng kanyang nakabuhol na buhok, ay labis na nagalak. Ngunit noon, hindi nagpakita si Bhṛgu kay Nahuṣa—hindi niya ipinagkaloob ang tuwirang pagharap.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that spiritual authority is not compelled by royal power: even a king may be denied direct access if the sage chooses restraint. It implicitly commends humility and warns against entitlement in seeking sacred counsel.
Bhṛgu is described as sitting hidden within someone’s matted locks and feeling great joy, but he does not reveal himself to Nahusha or grant him a face-to-face meeting at that moment.