Shloka 3
Kārtavīrya–Samudra Saṃvāda and the Jāmadagnya Precedent (आश्वमेधिक पर्व, अध्याय २९)
स कदाचित् समुद्रान्ते विचरन् बलदर्पित: । अवाकिरन् शरशतै: समुद्रमिति न: श्रुतम्,सुना जाता है, एक दिन राजा कार्तवीर्य समुद्रके किनारे विचर रहा था। वहाँ उसने अपने बलके घमण्डमें आकर सैकड़ों बाणोंकी वर्षसे समुद्रको आच्छादित कर दिया
sa kadācit samudrānte vicaran baladarpitaḥ | avākiran śaraśataiḥ samudram iti naḥ śrutam |
আমি শুনিছোঁ—এদিন তেওঁ বলৰ দৰ্পত মত্ত হৈ সাগৰৰ তীৰত বিচৰণ কৰি আছিল; আৰু শত শত বাণ বৰ্ষাই সাগৰকেই যেন আচ্ছাদিত কৰি পেলালে।
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse cautions that mere strength is not virtue; when power is driven by pride (bala-darpa), it becomes a spectacle of domination. Ethical kingship requires restraint and humility, not impulsive displays that challenge nature or others.
A powerful king is described as walking along the seashore and, out of pride in his might, shooting such a dense volley of arrows that the ocean appears covered. The speaker presents it as a well-known report (iti naḥ śrutam).