Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 19
Dhūpa–Dīpa–Bali Phala Praśna; Nahūṣa–Agastya–Bhṛgu Saṃvāda
Incense, Lamp, and Bali Offerings; the Nahūṣa Dialogue
अमृतं चैव पानाय दत्तमस्मै पुरा विभो । महात्मना तदर्थ च नास्माभिविनिपात्यते
amṛtaṃ caiva pānāya dattam asmai purā vibho | mahātmanā tadarthaṃ ca nāsmābhir vinipātyate, prabho ||
再者，噢，大能者，往昔大德梵天曾赐他甘露（amṛta）以饮。正因如此，噢，主宰，我们不使他从天界坠落。
अगस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A prior righteous grant (such as a divine boon) carries moral weight: even when someone becomes blameworthy, one should act with restraint and respect for established gifts and vows, avoiding impulsive or excessive punishment.
Agastya explains why Nahūṣa is not being immediately cast down: in earlier times Brahmā bestowed amṛta upon him to drink, and that earlier bestowal is cited as the reason for withholding the act of making him fall from Svarga.