Shloka 166

Nahuṣa Abhiṣeka and the Crisis of Restraint (नहुषाभिषेकः—दमभ्रंशः)

Devanagari script

सम्प्राप्ता दर्शन देवी शक्रस्य महिषी प्रिया । उनके लिये वायु मनोहर

Transliteration

samprāptā darśanaṃ devī śakrasya mahiṣī priyā | teṣāṃ vāyavaḥ manoharāḥ sukhadāḥ śītalāḥ sugandhitāś ca vavāhuḥ | evaṃ krīḍataḥ durātmanaḥ rājñaḥ nahuṣasya dṛṣṭir ekadā devarāja-indrasya priyāyāṃ mahārāṇyāṃ śacīyāṃ nipapāta |

Translation

沙利耶说道：天后舍支（Śacī），释迦（因陀罗）所钟爱的王后，映入眼帘。为她之故，清风仿佛格外可意——悦心、安适、清凉而芬芳。就这样，当纳胡沙沉湎于自纵的嬉游之时，这位心术不正的君王有一天将目光投向了舍支——因陀罗所珍爱的天后。

Word by Word

• सम्प्राप्ता: having arrived / having come
• सम्प्राप्ता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-प्र-आप् (धातु) / सम्प्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• दर्शनम्: sight; audience; seeing
• दर्शनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• देवी: the goddess; lady
• देवी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• शक्रस्य: of Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• महिषी: chief queen; consort
• महिषी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिषी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रिया: beloved; dear
• प्रिया: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

शल्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• शल्य (Śalya)
• नहुष (Nahuṣa)
• इन्द्र/शक्र/देवराज (Indra/Śakra/Devarāja)
• शची (Śacī/Indrāṇī)
• वायु (the winds)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how unchecked desire and self-indulgence in a ruler can corrupt judgment and lead toward adharma—especially when one covets what is bound by loyalty and divine order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śalya narrates that Śacī, Indra’s beloved queen, comes into view amid an idyllic atmosphere, and King Nahuṣa—described as wicked-minded—fixes his gaze upon her, foreshadowing an improper pursuit.