Shloka 18
Marutta Seeks a Priest: Bṛhaspati’s Refusal and Nārada’s Guidance to Saṃvarta
Chapter 6
नारद उवाच राजन्नज्धिरस: पुत्र: संवर्तो नाम धार्मिक: । चड्क्रमीति दिश: सर्वा दिग्वासा मोहयन् प्रजा:
nārada uvāca rājann aṅgirasaḥ putraḥ saṃvarto nāma dhārmikaḥ | digvāsā mohayann prajāḥ sarvā diśaḥ paricakrāmeti ||
Sinabi ni Nārada: “O Hari, si Aṅgiras ay may ikalawang anak na nagngangalang Saṃvarta, isang taong tapat sa dharma. Namumuhay siyang hubad at nagkukubli sa paningin ng karaniwang tao; kaya’t nalilito ang mga tao, at patuloy siyang naglalagalag sa lahat ng dako. Kung ayaw kang tanggapin ni Bṛhaspati bilang yajamāna para sa handog na ritwal, lumapit ka kay Saṃvarta; siya’y lubhang maningning, at kapag siya’y nalugod, ikagagalak niyang isagawa ang iyong yajña.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual success and moral order depend not merely on status but on the right alignment of patron and priest: when an established authority (Bṛhaspati) withholds consent, one should seek a qualified, dharmic alternative (Saṃvarta) rather than forcing an improper relationship.
Nārada informs the king about Saṃvarta, Aṅgiras’s righteous son who wanders as a sky-clad ascetic, and advises the king to approach him to officiate the sacrifice if Bṛhaspati declines to accept the king as his yajamāna.