Shloka 27

Nahūṣa’s Pride, the Ṛṣi-Borne Palanquin, and the Search for Indra (नहुष-इन्द्राणी-प्रकरणम्)

Devanagari script

ततः प्रज्वाल्य विधिवज्जुहाव परमं हवि:

Transliteration

tataḥ prajvālya vidhivad juhāva paramaṃ haviḥ | tadanantaraṃ mahātejasvī bṛhaspatine devarāja-kī prāptaye vidhpūrvakam agniṃ prajvālya tasmin uttama-haviṣyasyāhutiṃ dadau | rājan! agnim āhutiṃ dattvā sa agnidevam uvāca—“tvam indradevasya padaṃ anviccha” iti |

Translation

于是他依仪轨燃起圣火，献上最上等的供献。其后，那光辉炽盛者为求得见布里哈斯帕提与天众之主因陀罗，复又如法重燃祭火，倾注殊胜供品。大王啊，献供既毕，他对火神阿耆尼说道：“查明因陀罗的所在。”

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• प्रज्वाल्य: having kindled
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √ज्वल्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable; prior action

• विधिवत्: according to rule, duly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत्

• जुहाव: offered (as oblation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person singular, Parasmaipada

• परमम्: supreme, excellent
• परमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular

• हविः: oblation, sacrificial offering
• हविः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस्
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular (form identical to nominative)

Speaker

शल्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śalya
• Agni (Agnideva)
• Indra (Devarāja)
• Bṛhaspati
• havis (oblation)
• sacrificial fire (agni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights vidhivat (rule-governed) action: when seeking higher counsel or divine assistance, one should proceed with discipline, purity of method, and reverence—using proper means rather than haste or coercion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śalya describes a ritual act: the sacred fire is kindled and an excellent oblation is offered. After the offering, Agni is requested to locate Indra (the king of the gods), indicating a quest for divine contact or guidance through the sanctioned medium of sacrifice.