Adhyāya 12: Devas’ Petition to Nahūṣa; Bṛhaspati on Śaraṇāgata-Dharma; Indrāṇī’s Strategic Delay
देवा ऊचु त्वया जगदिदं सर्व धृतं स्थावरजड्रमम् | एकपत्न्यसि सत्या च गच्छस्व नहुषं प्रति
devā ūcuḥ tvayā jagad idaṁ sarvaṁ dhṛtaṁ sthāvara-jaḍramam | eka-patny asi satyā ca gacchasva nahuṣaṁ prati ||
دیوتاؤں نے کہا—‘اے دیوی! تم ہی نے اس سارے جہان کو—ثابت و متحرک—سنبھال رکھا ہے۔ تم ایک ہی شوہر کی وفادار اور سچ پر قائم ہو؛ لہٰذا نہوش کے پاس جاؤ۔’
शल्य उवाच
The verse praises two dharmic virtues—truthfulness (satya) and exclusive marital fidelity (eka-patnī)—as sustaining forces of order, so powerful that they are described as upholding the world; such virtue earns divine recognition and guidance.
Within Śalya’s narration, the gods address a virtuous woman, commending her truth and single-spouse fidelity, and instruct her to go to Nahuṣa—indicating that her moral authority and purity are pivotal to the next turn of events involving him.