Shloka 24
Marutta’s Sacrifice and Agni’s Embassy (मरुत्त-यज्ञे दूतत्वम्)
इन्द्र रवाच पुनर्गत्वा पार्थिवं त्वं समेत्य वाक्यं मदीयं प्रापय स्वार्थयुक्तम् । पुनर्यद् युक्तो न करिष्यते वच- स्त्वत्तो वज्ज सम्प्रहर्तास्मि तस्मै
indra uvāca punar gatvā pārthivaṁ tvaṁ sametya vākyaṁ madīyaṁ prāpaya svārtha-yuktam | punar yad yukto na kariṣyate vacas tvatto vajraṁ samprahartāsmi tasmai ||
因陀罗说道：“再去一次，面见那位国王，将我这带着明确意旨的讯息传达给他。若你再三转告，他仍不依我言而行，我便以金刚雷霆击打他。”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Authority and responsibility are paired with accountability: a ruler is expected to heed purposeful counsel, and refusal to follow rightful instruction invites consequences. The verse frames ethical governance as responsiveness to legitimate warning, not mere assertion of power.
Indra instructs Agni to return to King Marutta and deliver Indra’s message again. Indra adds an ultimatum: if Marutta still refuses to comply after this renewed communication, Indra will punish him by striking with the vajra.