Shloka 3
Plakṣāvataraṇa–Yamunā Tīrtha and Prajāpati’s Vedī
Kurukṣetra Threshold
देशश्व नाहुषस्थायं यज्वन: पुण्यकर्मण:,कुन्तीनन्दन! यह नहुषकुमार ययातिका देश है, जो पुण्यकर्मा, याज्ञिक, महातेजस्वी और सार्वभौम सम्राट थे। वे सदा इन्द्रके साथ ईर्ष्या रखते थे। यहाँ यह उन्हींकी यज्ञभूमि है
deśo ’yaṃ nāhuṣasthāyaṃ yajvanaḥ puṇyakarmaṇaḥ | kuntīnandana! yaḥ nahuṣakumāro yayātir nāma deśaḥ, yaḥ puṇyakarmā yājñiko mahātejasvī sārvabhaumaḥ samrāṭ | sa sadā indreṇa saha īrṣyāṃ cakāra | eṣā tasyaiva yajñabhūmiḥ ||
Sinabi ni Lomaśa: “O anak ni Kuntī, ito ang lupain na kaugnay ng angkan ni Nahusha—pag-aari ni Yayāti, anak ni Nahusha—na bantog sa mga gawaing may kabutihan, masigasig sa paghahandog (yajña), makapangyarihan sa ningning, at isang pangkalahatang hari. Gayunman, palagi niyang kinikimkim ang inggit kay Indra. Ang mismong pook na ito ang kanyang pook-sakripisyo.”
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a powerful, virtuous, and ritually accomplished king can fall ethically through envy; jealousy toward those above oneself (here, Indra) is presented as a moral blemish that undermines merit and right kingship.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ forest journey, the sage Lomaśa identifies a sacred location and explains its association with King Yayāti (son of Nahusha), noting his greatness and his persistent rivalry/jealousy toward Indra, and pointing out that this is Yayāti’s sacrificial site.