Shloka 21
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
एवमेतद् भवेद् राजन् यदि राजा न बालिश: । अस्माकं दीर्घसूत्र: स्याद् भवान् धर्मपरायण:,“राजन! यदि ऐसा हो तो आप हमारे धर्मपरायण राजा अविवेकी और दीर्घसूत्री नहीं समझे जायूँगे
evam etad bhaved rājan yadi rājā na bāliśaḥ | asmākaṃ dīrghasūtraḥ syād bhavān dharmaparāyaṇaḥ ||
„So wäre es in der Tat, o König—wenn der König nicht töricht wäre. Dann würdest du, dem Dharma ergeben, von uns nicht als einer beurteilt, der langsam handelt und übermäßig zögert.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s commitment to dharma must be joined with discernment and timely action. Righteous intent alone is not enough; foolishness or delay can undermine dharma in practice.
Vaiśampāyana reports a statement addressed to a king, asserting that if the king is not foolish, then he should not be regarded as procrastinating; the line functions as counsel about wise, prompt, dharma-aligned governance.