Shloka 19
Duḥṣantasya Vana-praveśaḥ
King Duḥṣanta’s Entry into the Forest Hunt
ततः प्रभृति चाद्यापि यष्टे: क्षितिपसत्तमै: । प्रवेश: क्रियते राजन् यथा तेन प्रवर्तित:,राजन्! तबसे लेकर आजतक श्रेष्ठ राजाओंद्वारा छड़ी धरतीमें गाड़ी जाती है। वसुने जो प्रथा चला दी, वह अबतक चली आती है
tataḥ prabhṛti cādyāpi yaṣṭeḥ kṣitipasattamaiḥ | praveśaḥ kriyate rājan yathā tena pravartitaḥ ||
«ومنذ ذلك الحين، إلى يومنا هذا، أيها الملك، يُقيمُ أعاظمُ الملوك طقسَ غرسِ العصا في الأرض، كما سنَّه هو. وهكذا استمرّت العادة التي أطلقها ذلك الملك وصارت سُنّةً ملكيّةً راسخة.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a righteous or authoritative act by a king can crystallize into enduring social and royal custom. It underscores continuity of dharma through established precedent (ācāra) maintained by exemplary rulers.
Vaiśaṃpāyana explains to the king that a particular royal rite—planting a ceremonial staff into the ground—has been performed by great kings from that earlier time up to the present, following the precedent instituted by a prior ruler.