Shloka 16
Marutta’s Sacrifice and Agni’s Embassy (मरुत्त-यज्ञे दूतत्वम्)
मरुत्त उवाच संवर्तो्यं याजयिता द्विजो मां बृहस्पतेरञण्जलिरेष तस्य । न चैवासौ याजयित्वा महेन्द्रं मर्त्य सन््तं याजयन्नद्य शोभेत्
Marutta uvāca—Saṃvarto ’yaṃ yājayitā dvijo māṃ Bṛhaspater añjalir eṣa tasya | Na caivāsau yājayitvā Mahendraṃ martya-santaṃ yājayann adya śobhet ||
马鲁塔说道：“尊者啊，我的祭祀将由这位婆罗门三伐尔塔主持。至于布里哈斯帕提，我的合掌敬献（añjali）唯为他而留。况且他既曾为摩诃因陀罗亲自主持祭礼，如今若为我这等必死凡人主持而求显名，实不相称。”
मरुत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights propriety (aucitya) and humility in ritual life: one should honor spiritual hierarchy appropriately (reverence to Bṛhaspati) and recognize that a priest’s dignity is shaped by the worthiness and scale of the patron—having served Indra, it seems unfitting for him to seek glory by serving an ordinary mortal.
King Marutta declares that Saṃvarta will conduct his sacrifice. He simultaneously expresses deference to Bṛhaspati and remarks that Saṃvarta, who has already officiated for Indra (Mahendra), would not appear to gain further prestige by officiating for a mortal king like Marutta.