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 ||
প্রহ্লাদ বললেন—এটি পৃথিবীতে অমৃতস্বরূপ; এটাই অতুলনীয় চক্ষু। ব্রাহ্মণের মুখ থেকে উচ্চারিত কাব্যময়, প্রামাণ্য নীতিবচন—এ কথা শুনে রাজা যেন তদনুসারে উদ্যোগী হয়ে আচরণ করে।
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.