Shloka 18
Āṇīmāṇḍavya–Upākhyāna
The Account of Āṇīmāṇḍavya and the Birth of Vidura
असुखानामनाथानां तिर्यग्योनिषु वर्तताम् । स एव राजा सर्वेषां भूतानामभवत् पिता,दुःखी, अनाथ एवं पशु-पक्षीकी योनिमें पड़े हुए जीव--इन सब प्राणियोंका वे राजा शान्तनु ही पिताके समान पालन करते थे
asukhānām anāthānāṁ tiryagyonīṣu vartatām | sa eva rājā sarveṣāṁ bhūtānām abhavat pitā ||
قال فَيْشَمْبايَنَة: حتى أولئك المبتلين الذين لا ملجأ لهم، القاطنين في أرحام الحيوان والطير، كان ذلك الملك بعينه أبًا لجميع الكائنات. أي إن مُلك شانتانو اتّسم بحراسةٍ رحيمة: كان يحمي العاجزين في كل صور الحياة، ويعاملهم كأنهم من عياله.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ideal of rājadhrama: a king should act like a father to all beings, extending protection even to the suffering and helpless, including non-human creatures. Authority is justified by compassionate guardianship, not mere power.
Vaiśampāyana is describing King Śāntanu’s character and rule, emphasizing that his care and protection were so broad that even beings in animal and bird births are portrayed as receiving his paternal guardianship.