05.017
śalya uvāca॥
Śalya said:
atha sañcintayanasya devarājasya dhīmataḥ। nahuṣasya vadhopāyaṃ lokapālaiḥ sahaiva taiḥ ॥ tapasvī tatra bhagavānagastyaḥ pratyadṛśyata ॥5-17-1॥
Then, as the wise king of gods was contemplating with the world guardians on how to destroy Nahusha, the revered sage Agastya appeared there.
so'bravīdarca deveṁdraṁ diṣṭyā vai vardhate bhavān। viśvarūpavināśena vṛtrāsuravadena ca ॥5-17-2॥
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.
diṣṭyā ca nahuṣo bhraṣṭo devarājyātpuraṁdara। diṣṭyā hatāriṁ paśyāmi bhavantaṁ balasūdana ॥5-17-3॥
Fortunately, Nahusha has been dethroned from the position of Indra, O Purandara. Fortunately, I see you, O slayer of foes.
indra uvāca॥
Indra spoke:
svāgataṃ te maharṣe'stu prīto'haṃ darśanāttava। pādyamācamnīyaṃ ca gām-arghyaṃ ca pratīccha me ॥5-17-4॥
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.
śalya uvāca॥
Shalya spoke:
pūjitaṃ copaviṣṭaṃ tamāsane munisattamam। paryapṛcchata deveśaḥ prahṛṣṭo brāhmaṇarṣabham ॥5-17-5॥
The joyful lord of gods asked the revered sage, the best among the Brahmins, who was seated on the seat.
etadicchāmi bhagavankathyamānaṃ dvijottama। paribhraṣṭaḥ kathaṃ svargānnahuṣaḥ pāpaniścayaḥ ॥5-17-6॥
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.
agastya uvāca॥
Agastya spoke:
śṛṇu śakra priyaṃ vākyaṃ yathā rājā durātmavān। svargādbhraṣṭo durācāro nahuṣo baladarpitaḥ ॥5-17-7॥
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.
śramārtāstu vahantastaṃ nahuṣaṃ pāpakāriṇam। devarṣayo mahābhāgāstathā brahmarṣayo'malāḥ ॥ papracchuḥ saṃśayaṃ deva nahuṣaṃ jayatāṃ vara ॥5-17-8॥
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."
ya ime brahmaṇā proktā mantrā vai prokṣaṇe gavām। ete pramāṇaṃ bhavata utāho neti vāsava ॥ nahuṣo neti tānāha tamasā mūḍhacetanaḥ ॥5-17-9॥
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.'
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ॥
The sages spoke:
adharme sampravṛttastvaṃ dharmaṃ na pratipadyase। pramāṇametadasmākaṃ pūrvaṃ proktaṃ maharṣibhiḥ ॥5-17-10॥
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.
agastya uvāca॥
Agastya spoke:
tato vivadamānaḥ sa munibhiḥ saha vāsava। atha mām aspṛśan mūrdhni pādenādharma-pīḍitaḥ ॥5-17-11॥
Then, while arguing with the sages, Indra, oppressed by unrighteousness, touched me on the head with his foot.
tenābhūdhatatejāḥ sa niḥśrīkaśca śacīpate। tatastamahamāvignamavocaṃ bhayapīḍitam ॥5-17-12॥
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.
yasmāt pūrvaiḥ kṛtaṃ brahma brahmarṣibhir anuṣṭhitam। aduṣṭaṃ dūṣayasi vai yacca mūrdhny aspṛśaḥ padā ॥5-17-13॥
You defile the sacred knowledge practiced by the ancient sages, which is unblemished, by placing your foot on the head.
yaccāpi tvamṛṣīnmūḍha brahmakalpāndurāsadān। vāhānkṛtvā vāhayasi tena svargāddhataprabhaḥ ॥5-17-14॥
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.
dhvaṁsa pāpa paribhraṣṭaḥ kṣīṇapuṇyo mahītalam। daśa varṣasahasrāṇi sarparūpadharo mahān ॥ vicariṣyasi pūrṇeṣu punaḥ svargamavāpsyasi ॥5-17-15॥
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.
evaṁ bhraṣṭo durātmā sa devarājyādariṁdama। diṣṭyā vardhāmahe śakra hato brāhmaṇakaṇṭakaḥ ॥5-17-16॥
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.
triviṣṭapaṃ prapadyasva pāhi lokāñśacīpate। jitendriyo jitāmitraḥ stūyamāno maharṣibhiḥ ॥5-17-17॥
O lord of Śacī, approach heaven and protect the worlds; you, who have conquered both senses and enemies, are praised by the great sages.
śalya uvāca॥
Shalya spoke:
tato devā bhṛśaṃ tuṣṭā maharṣigaṇasaṃvṛtāḥ। pitaraścaiva yakṣāśca bhujagā rākṣasāstathā ॥5-17-18॥
Then the gods, greatly pleased and surrounded by great sages, along with the ancestors, yakshas, serpents, and demons, were all present.
gandharvā devakanyāśca sarve cāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ। sarāṃsi saritaḥ śailāḥ sāgarāśca viśāṃ pate ॥5-17-19॥
O lord of the people, there are celestial musicians, divine maidens, and all groups of apsaras, as well as lakes, rivers, mountains, and oceans.
upagamyābruvansarve diṣṭyā vardhasi śatruhan। hataśca nahuṣaḥ pāpo diṣṭyāgastyena dhīmatā ॥ diṣṭyā pāpasamācāraḥ kṛtaḥ sarpo mahītale ॥5-17-20॥
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."
