Shloka 17
वसिष्ठ-प्रशंसा
Vasiṣṭha as Purohita: Ascetic Mastery and Royal Counsel
परिपृच्छत्य स मां पूर्व परिक्लेशं पुरस्य च । अब्रवीद् ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठो विश्वास्य प्रहसन्निव,“देखकर जन श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणदेवताने पहले मुझसे सम्पूर्ण नगरके कष्टका कारण पूछा। इसके बाद अपनी अलौकिक शक्तिका विश्वास दिलाकर हँसते हुए-से कहा--
paripṛcchaty sa māṃ pūrvaṃ parikleśaṃ purasya ca | abravīd brāhmaṇaśreṣṭho viśvāsya prahasann iva ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Zuerst befragte er mich nach der Not der Stadt und der Ursache ihres Leidens. Dann sprach jener vornehmste der Brahmanen, gleichsam lächelnd — nachdem er Vertrauen in seine außergewöhnliche Macht geweckt hatte.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A responsible, wise figure begins by investigating the causes of collective suffering and then establishes trust through composure and credibility before offering guidance—suggesting that ethical leadership requires diagnosis, reassurance, and measured speech.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that a distinguished brāhmaṇa first questioned him about the city’s affliction; afterward, having inspired confidence in his extraordinary capability, the brāhmaṇa spoke with a calm, almost smiling demeanor, signaling that he is about to address the crisis.