05.012
śalya uvāca॥
Śalya spoke:
kruddhaṃ tu nahuṣaṃ jñātvā devāḥ sarṣipurogamāḥ। abruvandevarājānaṃ nahuṣaṃ ghoradarśanam ॥5-12-1॥
The gods, along with the leading sages, realized that Nahusha was angry. They approached Nahusha, the king of gods, who appeared terrifying, to address the situation.
devarāja jahi krodhaṃ tvayi kruddhe jagadvibho। trastaṃ sāsuragandharvaṃ sakiṃnaramahoragam ॥5-12-2॥
O king of the gods, let go of your anger. When you are angry, O lord of the universe, the entire world, along with demons, celestial musicians, kinnaras, and great serpents, becomes terrified.
jahi krodham imaṁ sādho na krudhyanti bhavadvidhāḥ। parasya patnī sā devī prasīdasva sureśvara ॥5-12-3॥
O holy one, conquer this anger; those like you do not get angry. She is the wife of another, a goddess, so be pleased, O lord of gods.
nivartaya manaḥ pāpāt paradārābhimarśanāt। devarājo'si bhadraṃ te prajā dharmeṇa pālaya ॥5-12-4॥
Turn your mind away from sinful acts, especially from coveting another's wife. As the king of gods, ensure the welfare of your subjects by ruling with righteousness.
evamukto na jagrāha tadvacaḥ kāmamohitaḥ। atha devānuvācedamindraṃ prati surādhipaḥ ॥5-12-5॥
Despite being told thus, he did not heed those words, being deluded by desire. Then, the lord of the gods addressed Indra.
ahalyā dharṣitā pūrvamṛṣipatnī yaśasvinī। jīvato bharturindreṇa sa vaḥ kiṃ na nivāritaḥ ॥5-12-6॥
Ahalya, the illustrious wife of the sage, was dishonored by Indra while her husband was still alive. Why did you not prevent this?
bahūni ca nṛśaṁsāni kṛtānīndreṇa vai purā। vaidharmyāṇyupadhāścaiva sa vaḥ kiṁ na nivāritaḥ ॥5-12-7॥
In the past, Indra committed many cruel and unrighteous acts, including deceptions. Why did you not prevent him?
upatiṣṭhatu māṃ devī etadasyā hitaṃ param। yuṣmākaṃ ca sadā devāḥ śivamevaṃ bhaviṣyati ॥5-12-8॥
May the goddess attend to me, as this is her supreme welfare. Your gods will always remain auspicious in this way.
devā ūcuḥ॥
The gods spoke:
indrāṇīmānayiṣyāmo yathecchasi divaspate। jahi krodhamimaṃ vīra prīto bhava sureśvara ॥5-12-9॥
We will bring Indrani as you desire, O lord of the day. Let go of this anger, hero, and be pleased, O lord of gods.
śalya uvāca॥
Shalya spoke:
ityuktvā te tadā devā ṛṣibhiḥ saha bhārata। jagmur bṛhaspatiṃ vaktum indrāṇīṃ cāśubhaṃ vacaḥ ॥5-12-10॥
After speaking thus, the gods, along with the sages, went to Bṛhaspati and Indrāṇī to convey the inauspicious words, O Bhārata.
jānīmaḥ śaraṇaṃ prāptam indrāṇīṃ tava veśmani। dattābhayāṃ ca viprendra tvayā devarṣisattama ॥5-12-11॥
We acknowledge that Indrani, having sought refuge in your abode, has been assured safety by you, O eminent sage and foremost among divine sages.
te tvāṃ devāḥ sagandharvā ṛṣayaśca mahādyute। prasādayanti cendrāṇī nahuṣāya pradīyatām ॥5-12-12॥
The gods, along with the Gandharvas and sages, are beseeching you, O great lustrous one, that Indrani should be given to Nahusha.
indrādviśiṣṭo nahuṣo devarājo mahādyutiḥ। vṛṇotviyam varārohā bhartṛtve varavarṇinī ॥5-12-13॥
Nahusha, who is superior to Indra and the king of gods with great splendor, may this beautiful lady of excellent complexion choose him as her husband.
evamukte tu sā devī bāṣpamutsṛjya sasvaram। uvāca rudatī dīnā bṛhaspatimidaṃ vacaḥ ॥5-12-14॥
After being addressed in this way, the goddess, shedding tears audibly, spoke these words to Brihaspati while weeping and feeling wretched.
nāhamicchāmi nahuṣaṃ patimanvāsy taṃ prabhum। śaraṇāgatāsmi te brahmaṃstrāhi māṃ mahato bhayāt ॥5-12-15॥
I do not desire Nahusha as my husband, having followed that lord. I have come to you for refuge, O Brahman; please protect me from this great fear.
bṛhaspatiruvāca॥
Bṛhaspati spoke:
śaraṇāgatāṃ na tyajeyam indrāṇi mama niścitam। dharmajñāṃ dharmaśīlāṃ ca na tyaje tvām anindite ॥5-12-16॥
I am certain, O Indrani, that I would never abandon someone who has sought my refuge. I will not abandon you, O blameless one, who is knowledgeable in dharma and virtuous.
nākāryaṃ kartumicchāmi brāhmaṇaḥ sanviśeṣataḥ। śrutadharmā satyaśīlo jānan dharmānuśāsanam ॥5-12-17॥
As a Brahmin, I particularly refrain from undertaking actions, being aware of the teachings of the law, truthful in character, and knowledgeable about the instructions of the law.
nāhametatkariṣyāmi gacchadhvaṃ vai surottamāḥ। asmiṃścārthe purā gītaṃ brahmaṇā śrūyatāmidam ॥5-12-18॥
I will not do this. Go, indeed, O best of gods. Listen to what was formerly sung by Brahma regarding this matter.
na tasya bījaṃ rohati bījakāle; na cāsya varṣaṃ varṣati varṣakāle। bhītaṃ prapannaṃ pradadāti śatrave; na so'ntaraṃ labhate trāṇamicchan ॥5-12-19॥
His efforts do not bear fruit at the right time, nor does he receive help when needed. He aids his enemies when they are vulnerable, but finds no refuge when he seeks protection.
moghama annaṃ vindati cāpy acetāḥ; svargāl lokād bhraśyati naṣṭaceṣṭaḥ। bhītaṃ prapannaṃ pradadāti yo vai; na tasya havyaṃ pratigṛhṇanti devāḥ ॥5-12-20॥
The foolish person who gives to those who are frightened and have surrendered finds his food in vain and falls from the heavenly world, as the gods do not accept his offering.
pramīyate cāsya prajā hyakāle; sadā vivāsaṃ pitaro'sya kurvate। bhītaṃ prapannaṃ pradadāti śatrave; sendrā devāḥ praharantyasya vajram ॥5-12-21॥
His progeny is indeed destroyed untimely; his ancestors always exile him. When frightened and surrendered, he gives to the enemy; the gods along with Indra strike him with a thunderbolt.
etadevaṃ vijānanvai na dāsyāmi śacīmimām। indrāṇīṃ viśrutāṃ loke śakrasya mahiṣīṃ priyām ॥5-12-22॥
Knowing this, I will certainly not give Śacī, who is renowned in the world as Indrāṇī, the beloved queen of Śakra.
asyā hitaṃ bhaved yac ca mama cāpi hitaṃ bhavet। kriyatāṃ tat sureśreṣṭhā na hi dāsyāmy ahaṃ śacīm ॥5-12-23॥
Let what is beneficial for both her and me be done, O best of gods, for I will not give up Śacī.
śalya uvāca॥
Śalya spoke:
atha devāstamevāhurgurumaṅgirasāṃ varam। kathaṃ sunītaṃ tu bhavenmantrayasva bṛhaspate ॥5-12-24॥
Then the gods addressed Brihaspati, the foremost among the Angirasa sages, asking him to provide guidance on how things could be properly directed.
bṛhaspatiruvāca॥
Bṛhaspati spoke:
nahuṣaṃ yācatāṃ devī kiñcitkālāntaraṃ śubhā। indrāṇīhitametaddhi tathāsmākaṃ bhaviṣyati ॥5-12-25॥
The auspicious goddess Indrani, requesting Nahusha, said that this will indeed be for our welfare for some time.
bahuvighnakaraḥ kālaḥ kālaḥ kālaṃ nayiṣyati। darpito balavāṃścāpi nahuṣo varasaṃśrayāt ॥5-12-26॥
Time, which causes many obstacles, will eventually lead everything. Even the proud and strong Nahusha was led by the refuge of a boon.
śalya uvāca॥
Śalya spoke:
tatastena tathokte tu prītā devāstamabruvan। brahmansādhvidamuktaṃ te hitaṃ sarvadivaukasām ॥ evametaddvijaśreṣṭha devī ceyaṃ prasādyatām ॥5-12-27॥
Then, when he spoke thus, the gods, being pleased, said to him: "O Brahman, what you have spoken is well said and beneficial for all the inhabitants of heaven." Therefore, O best of the twice-born, this goddess should be propitiated.
tataḥ samastā indrāṇīṃ devāḥ sāgnipurogamāḥ। ūcurvacanamavyagrā lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā ॥5-12-28॥
Then all the gods, led by Agni, spoke calmly to Indra's wife with the intention of benefiting the worlds.
tvayā jagadidaṃ sarvaṃ dhṛtaṃ sthāvarajaṅgamam। ekapatnyasi satyā ca gacchasva nahuṣaṃ prati ॥5-12-29॥
You uphold the entire world, both the movable and immovable. You are a faithful and singular wife, so go to Nahusha.
kṣipraṃ tvāmabhikāmaśca vinaśiṣyati pārthivaḥ। nahuṣo devi śakraśca suraiśvaryamavāpsyati ॥5-12-30॥
O goddess, the king who desires you will quickly perish. Nahuṣa and Indra will gain the lordship over the gods.
evaṃ viniścayaṃ kṛtvā indrāṇī kāryasiddhaye। abhyagacchat savrīḍā nahuṣaṃ ghoradarśanam ॥5-12-31॥
After making her decision, Indrani bashfully approached Nahusha, who was terrifying in appearance, to accomplish her task.
dṛṣṭvā tāṃ nahuṣaścāpi vayorūpasamanvitām। samahṛṣyata duṣṭātmā kāmopahata-cetanaḥ ॥5-12-32॥
Upon seeing her, who was endowed with both youth and beauty, Nahusha, whose mind was corrupted by desire, felt a wicked joy.
