Shloka 34
Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation
Sumitra Itihāsa Begins
प्रह्माद उवाच नासूयामि द्विजान् विप्र राजास्मीति कदाचन । काव्यानि वदतां तेषां संयच्छामि वहामि च
Prahlāda uvāca: nāsūyāmi dvijān vipra rājāsmīti kadācana | kāvyāni vadatāṁ teṣāṁ saṁyacchāmi vahāmi ca ||
قال برهلادا: «يا خيرَ البراهمة، ما كنتُ قطّ أزدري ذوي الميلادين بدافع الكِبر: “أنا ملك”. بل إذا نطقوا بالنصح في سياسة المُلك وحسن السيرة، كففتُ نفسي، وأصغيتُ بانضباط، وحملتُ أوامرهم على رأسي—متلقّيًا إياها بإجلال».
प्रह्माद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal power should be governed by humility and self-restraint: a king must not insult the learned (dvijas/brāhmaṇas) out of pride, but should listen to their ethical and political counsel and uphold it respectfully.
Prahlāda is describing his own conduct as a ruler: he rejects arrogance based on kingship and explains that when brāhmaṇas offer instruction (counsel on right conduct and governance), he controls himself, listens carefully, and accepts their guidance with reverence.