Shloka 15
Dāna-Śreṣṭhatā: Abhaya, Anugraha, and the Ethics of Honoring the Worthy (दानश्रेष्ठता: अभय-अनुग्रह-विप्रपूजा)
नच ते दुष्कृतं किंचिदहमासादयं गृहे । तेन जीवसि राजर्षे न भवेथास्त्वमन्यथा
na ca te duṣkṛtaṃ kiñcid aham āsādayaṃ gṛhe | tena jīvasi rājarṣe na bhavethās tvam anyathā bhūpāla ||
তোমার গৃহে আমি তোমার কোনো দুষ্কৃত্য—অতি সামান্যও—পাইনি। হে রাজর্ষি, এই কারণেই তুমি জীবিত; নচেৎ, হে পৃথিবীপাল, তুমি আজ যেমন আছ তেমন থাকতে পারতে না—তোমার ক্ষমতা বিনষ্ট হয়ে যেত।
च्यवन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s legitimacy and even survival are portrayed as resting on moral integrity: when no wrongdoing (duṣkṛta) can be found in his conduct and household, he is protected; otherwise, loss of status and life follows. The verse underscores accountability and the ethical scrutiny expected of kings.
The sage Cyavana addresses a king (honored as a rājarṣi), stating that despite staying in the king’s house and observing closely, he has found no fault. Therefore the king remains alive and established; had there been wrongdoing, the consequences would have been ruinous.