Shloka 38
Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation
Sumitra Itihāsa Begins
मैं उनकी नीति-विद्याओंके रसका आस्वादन करता हूँ और जैसे चन्द्रमा नक्षत्रोंपर शासन करते हैं, उसी प्रकार मैं भी अपनी जातिवालोंपर राज्य करता हूँ ।।
etad pṛthivyām amṛtam etac cakṣur anuttamam | yad brāhmaṇamukhe kāvyaṃ etac chrutvā pravartate ||
قال برهلادا (Prahlāda): «هذا على ظهر الأرض كالرحيق؛ وهو العين التي لا تُجارى. إن المشورة الحكيمة—شعرًا في رونقها وسلطانًا في حجّتها—إذا خرجت من فم براهمن (brāhmaṇa)، فعلى الملك إذا سمعها أن ينهض ويتحرّك ويعمل بمقتضاها».
प्रह्माद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma-guided counsel is the king’s highest instrument: like ‘nectar’ it sustains the realm, and like an ‘unsurpassed eye’ it grants discernment. A ruler should listen to learned, principled instruction and govern in accordance with it.
Prahlāda is presenting a reflection on righteous governance: he elevates the value of authoritative instruction (nīti/dharma) voiced by a brāhmaṇa and urges that a king, upon hearing such counsel, should actively implement it in his conduct and rule.