Shloka 74
Āṇīmāṇḍavya–Upākhyāna
The Account of Āṇīmāṇḍavya and the Birth of Vidura
तस्मै स कुरुमुख्याय यथावत् परिपृच्छते । वरं शशंस कन्यां तामुद्दिश्य भरतर्षभ,भरतश्रेष्ठ! कुरुवंशके श्रेष्ठ पुरुष देवव्रतके भलीभाँति पूछनेपर वृद्ध मन्त्रीने बताया कि महाराज एक कन्यासे विवाह करना चाहते हैं
tasmai sa kurumukhyāya yathāvat paripṛcchate | varaṁ śaśaṁsa kanyāṁ tām uddiśya bharatarṣabha ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Als jener, der Vornehmste unter den Kurus, ihn ordnungsgemäß und der Reihe nach befragte, offenbarte der betagte Minister die begehrte Gabe—und sprach von jener Jungfrau, die der König zur Gemahlin nehmen wollte, o Stier unter den Bhāratas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes proper procedure and ethical decorum in royal decision-making: a senior counselor speaks only after being questioned in the right manner, and sensitive matters like marriage alliances are communicated with restraint and clarity.
A leading Kuru figure (contextually Devavrata) questions an aged minister about the king’s intention; in response, the minister reveals the ‘boon’ or desired plan—specifically, the king’s wish to marry a particular maiden.