Shloka 34
Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation
Sumitra Itihāsa Begins
प्रह्माद उवाच नासूयामि द्विजान् विप्र राजास्मीति कदाचन । काव्यानि वदतां तेषां संयच्छामि वहामि च
Prahlāda uvāca: nāsūyāmi dvijān vipra rājāsmīti kadācana | kāvyāni vadatāṁ teṣāṁ saṁyacchāmi vahāmi ca ||
Prahlāda sprach: „O Bester der Brāhmaṇas, niemals schmähe ich die Zweimalgeborenen aus dem Hochmut heraus: ‚Ich bin König.‘ Vielmehr, wenn sie Rat über Staatskunst und rechte Lebensführung erteilen, zügle ich mich, höre in Zucht zu und trage ihre Gebote auf meinem Haupt — indem ich sie ehrfürchtig annehme.“
प्रह्माद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal power should be governed by humility and self-restraint: a king must not insult the learned (dvijas/brāhmaṇas) out of pride, but should listen to their ethical and political counsel and uphold it respectfully.
Prahlāda is describing his own conduct as a ruler: he rejects arrogance based on kingship and explains that when brāhmaṇas offer instruction (counsel on right conduct and governance), he controls himself, listens carefully, and accepts their guidance with reverence.