Shloka 24
उतथ्योपदेशः—राजधर्मः, दर्पनिग्रहः, प्रजारक्षणम्
Utathya’s Instruction: Royal Dharma, Restraint of Pride, Protection of Subjects
ब्राह्मणानां सदासूयाद् बाल्याद् वैरोचनो बलि: । अथास्माच्छीरपाक्रामद् या$स्मिन्नासीत् प्रतापिनी
brāhmaṇānāṃ sadāsūyād bālyād vairocano baliḥ | athāsmāc chīrapākrāmad yā’sminn āsīt pratāpinī ||
قال أوتاثيا: «منذ الطفولة كان بالي، ابن فيروتشانا، لا يفتأ يعيب البراهمة ويلتمس عليهم الزلل. لذلك فارقته شري (Śrī)، حظّ الملك وسؤدده، التي كانت مقيمة فيه—قويةً محرقةً للأعداء—فانصرفت عنه».
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Persistent asūyā—habitual fault-finding and contempt—toward Brahmins (symbols of learning, ritual order, and moral counsel) undermines dharma; when dharma is weakened, śrī (legitimate prosperity and sovereignty) withdraws, leading to decline.
Utathya cites Bali’s lifelong tendency to disparage Brahmins as the cause of his loss of royal fortune: the powerful, enemy-scorching prosperity that resided in him leaves him because of this ethical failing.