शल्य उवाच
अथ ताम् अब्रवीद् दृष्ट्वा नहुषो देवराट् तदा ॥
त्रयाणाम् अपि लोकानाम् अहम् इन्द्रः शुचिस्मिते ॥
भजस्व मां वरारोहे पतित्वे वरवर्णिनि ॥
एवम् उक्ता तु सा देवी नहुषेण पतिव्रता ॥
प्रावेपत भयोद्विग्ना प्रवाते कदली यथा ॥
नमस्य सा तु ब्रह्माणं कृत्वा शिरसि चाञ्जलिम् ॥
देवराजम् अथोवाच नहुषं घोरदर्शनम् ॥
कालम् इच्छाम्य् अहं लब्धुं किं चित् त्वत्तः सुरेश्वर ॥
न हि विज्ञायते शक्रः प्राप्तः किं वा क्व वा गतः ॥
तत्त्वम् एतत् तु विज्ञाय यदि न ज्ञायते प्रभो ॥
ततो ऽहं त्वाम् उपस्थास्ये सत्यम् एतद् ब्रवीमि ते ॥
एवम् उक्तः स इन्द्राण्या नहुषः प्रीतिमान् अभूत् ॥
śalya uvāca
atha tām abravīd dṛṣṭvā nahuṣo devarāṭ tadā ||
trayāṇām api lokānām aham indraḥ śucismite ||
bhajasva māṃ varārohe patitve varavarṇini ||
evam uktā tu sā devī nahuṣeṇa pativratā ||
prāvepata bhayodvignā pravāte kadalī yathā ||
namasya sā tu brahmāṇaṃ kṛtvā śirasi cāñjalim ||
devarājam athovāca nahuṣaṃ ghoradarśanam ||
kālam icchāmy ahaṃ labdhuṃ kiṃ cit tvattaḥ sureśvara ||
na hi vijñāyate śakraḥ prāptaḥ kiṃ vā kva vā gataḥ ||
tattvam etat tu vijñāya yadi na jñāyate prabho ||
tato 'haṃ tvām upasthāsye satyam etad bravīmi te ||
evam uktaḥ sa indrāṇyā nahuṣaḥ prītimān abhūt ||
Shalya said: ‘Then Nahusha, king of the gods, looked upon her and said: “O one of sweet smile, I am Indra of all three worlds. O you of beautiful hips and fair countenance, accept me as your lord!” This chaste goddess, thus addressed by Nahusha, was frightened and trembled like a plantain stalk in the wind. She bowed her head to Brahma and, joining her hands, addressed Nahusha, the king of the gods, whose countenance was terrible, saying: “O lord of the divinities, I wish to gain some time. It is not known what has become of Indra or where he is. Having learned the truth about him, if, O lord, I receive no tidings of him, then I shall come to you; this I tell you truly.” At this address from Indra’s queen, Nahusha was pleased. And Nahusha said: “So be it, O lady of beautiful hips, as you have told me.”’
540e43ca6e00 · published Jul 17, 2026, 3:31:48 AM UTC
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This passage (5.13.1-5) develops the central theme of the Udyoga-parva: the effort toward peace is already underway against the backdrop of an inevitable war. Dharma is revealed here through speech, through the choice of envoys, through fidelity to one’s word, and through the responsibility kings bear for the consequences of their decisions.