05.017
शल्य उवाच॥
Śalya said:
अथ सञ्चिन्तयानस्य देवराजस्य धीमतः। नहुषस्य वधोपायं लोकपालैः सहैव तैः ॥ तपस्वी तत्र भगवानगस्त्यः प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥५-१७-१॥
Then, as the wise king of gods was contemplating with the world guardians on how to destroy Nahusha, the revered sage Agastya appeared there.
सोऽब्रवीदर्च्य देवेन्द्रं दिष्ट्या वै वर्धते भवान्। विश्वरूपविनाशेन वृत्रासुरवधेन च ॥५-१७-२॥
He addressed the revered Indra, expressing that it is fortunate indeed that Indra's power and stature have increased through the defeat of Viśvarūpa and the slaying of Vṛtrāsura.
दिष्ट्या च नहुषो भ्रष्टो देवराज्यात्पुरंदर। दिष्ट्या हतारिं पश्यामि भवन्तं बलसूदन ॥५-१७-३॥
Fortunately, Nahusha has been dethroned from the position of Indra, O Purandara. Fortunately, I see you, O slayer of foes.
इन्द्र उवाच॥
Indra spoke:
स्वागतं ते महर्षेऽस्तु प्रीतोऽहं दर्शनात्तव। पाद्यमाचमनीयं च गामर्घ्यं च प्रतीच्छ मे ॥५-१७-४॥
Welcome, O great sage, I am delighted to see you. Please accept from me water for washing your feet, water for sipping, a cow, and an offering.
शल्य उवाच॥
Shalya spoke:
पूजितं चोपविष्टं तमासने मुनिसत्तमम्। पर्यपृच्छत देवेशः प्रहृष्टो ब्राह्मणर्षभम् ॥५-१७-५॥
The joyful lord of gods asked the revered sage, the best among the Brahmins, who was seated on the seat.
एतदिच्छामि भगवन्कथ्यमानं द्विजोत्तम। परिभ्रष्टः कथं स्वर्गान्नहुषः पापनिश्चयः ॥५-१७-६॥
I wish to hear, O Lord, how Nahusha, who was determined in sin, fell from heaven, as being told by you, O best of the twice-born.
अगस्त्य उवाच॥
Agastya spoke:
शृणु शक्र प्रियं वाक्यं यथा राजा दुरात्मवान्। स्वर्गाद्भ्रष्टो दुराचारो नहुषो बलदर्पितः ॥५-१७-७॥
Listen, Indra, to the dear words about how King Nahusha, who was wicked and immoral, fell from heaven due to his arrogance and misuse of power.
श्रमार्तास्तु वहन्तस्तं नहुषं पापकारिणम्। देवर्षयो महाभागास्तथा ब्रह्मर्षयोऽमलाः ॥ पप्रच्छुः संशयं देव नहुषं जयतां वर ॥५-१७-८॥
Afflicted by toil, the divine and Brahma sages, who were greatly fortunate and pure, carried the evil-doer Nahuṣa. They asked, "O god, Nahuṣa, the best among the victorious, we have a doubt."
य इमे ब्रह्मणा प्रोक्ता मन्त्रा वै प्रोक्षणे गवाम्। एते प्रमाणं भवत उताहो नेति वासव ॥ नहुषो नेति तानाह तमसा मूढचेतनः ॥५-१७-९॥
These mantras, spoken by Brahman, are indeed used in the sprinkling of cows. Are these authoritative or not, O Indra? Nahusha, bewildered in mind by darkness, said to them, 'No.'
ऋषय ऊचुः॥
The sages spoke:
अधर्मे सम्प्रवृत्तस्त्वं धर्मं न प्रतिपद्यसे। प्रमाणमेतदस्माकं पूर्वं प्रोक्तं महर्षिभिः ॥५-१७-१०॥
You are acting against righteousness and not following the path of dharma. This has been stated by our great sages in the past as evidence.
अगस्त्य उवाच॥
Agastya spoke:
ततो विवदमानः स मुनिभिः सह वासव। अथ मामस्पृशन्मूर्ध्नि पादेनाधर्मपीडितः ॥५-१७-११॥
Then, while arguing with the sages, Indra, oppressed by unrighteousness, touched me on the head with his foot.
तेनाभूद्धततेजाः स निःश्रीकश्च शचीपते। ततस्तमहमाविग्नमवोचं भयपीडितम् ॥५-१७-१२॥
By his actions, his splendor was diminished, and he was left without wealth, O lord of Shachi. Then, I calmly spoke to him, who was gripped by fear.
यस्मात्पूर्वैः कृतं ब्रह्म ब्रह्मर्षिभिरनुष्ठितम्। अदुष्टं दूषयसि वै यच्च मूर्ध्न्यस्पृशः पदा ॥५-१७-१३॥
You defile the sacred knowledge practiced by the ancient sages, which is unblemished, by placing your foot on the head.
यच्चापि त्वमृषीन्मूढ ब्रह्मकल्पान्दुरासदान्। वाहान्कृत्वा वाहयसि तेन स्वर्गाद्धतप्रभः ॥५-१७-१४॥
You, in your foolishness, have made the sages, who are like Brahma and difficult to approach, your vehicles and drive them, thus you are deprived of splendor from heaven.
ध्वंस पाप परिभ्रष्टः क्षीणपुण्यो महीतलम्। दश वर्षसहस्राणि सर्परूपधरो महान् ॥ विचरिष्यसि पूर्णेषु पुनः स्वर्गमवाप्स्यसि ॥५-१७-१५॥
Having fallen due to the destruction of sin and depleted of merit, you will wander the earth in the form of a great serpent for ten thousand years. Once this period is completed, you will regain entry to heaven.
एवं भ्रष्टो दुरात्मा स देवराज्यादरिंदम। दिष्ट्या वर्धामहे शक्र हतो ब्राह्मणकण्टकः ॥५-१७-१६॥
Thus, O Indra, the wicked soul has fallen from the divine kingdom, and fortunately, we thrive as the thorn of the Brahmins is killed, O conqueror of enemies.
त्रिविष्टपं प्रपद्यस्व पाहि लोकाञ्शचीपते। जितेन्द्रियो जितामित्रः स्तूयमानो महर्षिभिः ॥५-१७-१७॥
O lord of Śacī, approach heaven and protect the worlds; you, who have conquered both senses and enemies, are praised by the great sages.
शल्य उवाच॥
Shalya spoke:
ततो देवा भृशं तुष्टा महर्षिगणसंवृताः। पितरश्चैव यक्षाश्च भुजगा राक्षसास्तथा ॥५-१७-१८॥
Then the gods, greatly pleased and surrounded by great sages, along with the ancestors, yakshas, serpents, and demons, were all present.
गन्धर्वा देवकन्याश्च सर्वे चाप्सरसां गणाः। सरांसि सरितः शैलाः सागराश्च विशां पते ॥५-१७-१९॥
O lord of the people, there are celestial musicians, divine maidens, and all groups of apsaras, as well as lakes, rivers, mountains, and oceans.
उपगम्याब्रुवन्सर्वे दिष्ट्या वर्धसि शत्रुहन्। हतश्च नहुषः पापो दिष्ट्यागस्त्येन धीमता ॥ दिष्ट्या पापसमाचारः कृतः सर्पो महीतले ॥५-१७-२०॥
Upon approaching, everyone said, "It is fortunate that you prosper, O slayer of enemies. Fortunately, the wicked Nahuṣa has been slain by the wise Agastya. It is fortunate that the wicked serpent's deeds are now on the earth."
