Shloka 20
Marutta’s Sacrifice and Agni’s Embassy (मरुत्त-यज्ञे दूतत्वम्)
व्यास उवाच ततो देवानगमद्ू धूमकेतु- दहिाद् भीतो व्यथितोडश्वृत्थपर्णवत् । त॑ं वै दृष्टवा प्राह शक्रो महात्मा बृहस्पते: संनिधौ हव्यवाहम्
vyāsa uvāca | tato devān agamad dhūmaketur dahyād bhīto vyathito 'śvatthaparṇavat | taṃ vai dṛṣṭvā prāha śakro mahātmā bṛhaspateḥ saṃnidhau havyavāham |
Sinabi ni Vyāsa: Pagkaraan nito, si Agni—na tinatawag na Dhūmaketu—na takót na maging abo at nanginginig sa pangamba, ay agad na bumalik sa mga diyos, nanginginig na parang dahon ng punong aśvattha. Nang makita siyang nagbalik, si Śakra (Indra), ang dakilang-loob, sa mismong harapan ni Bṛhaspati, ay nagtanong kay Havyavāha (Agni): “Agni, sa aking utos ay nagpunta ka dala ang mensahe upang dalhin si Bṛhaspati kay Haring Marutta. Sabihin mo—ano ang sinabi ni Marutta na naghahanda ng sakripisyo? Susunod ba siya sa aking salita o hindi?”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even divine agents can be shaken by fear when confronted with overwhelming power; the passage highlights the ethical tension between authority (Indra’s command), ritual sovereignty (a king’s sacrifice), and truthful reporting by a messenger in the presence of a spiritual preceptor (Bṛhaspati).
Agni returns to the gods trembling after hearing about Saṃvartaka (implied as a fearsome force). Indra, with Bṛhaspati present, interrogates Agni about the response of King Marutta, who is preparing a sacrifice, and whether Marutta will comply with Indra’s message.