Shloka 21
कर्णप्रवेशः—रङ्गे द्वन्द्वयुद्धप्रस्तावः तथा अङ्गराज्याभिषेकः
Karna’s Entry, Duel Proposal, and Consecration as King of Aṅga
भीष्मो राज्यं च राष्ट्र च महर्षिभ्यो न्न्यवेदयत् । तेषामथो वृद्धतम: प्रत्युत्थाय जटाजिनी । ऋषीणां मतमाज्ञाय महर्षिरिदमब्रवीत्,राजन्! उस समय वहाँ आये हुए समस्त जनसमुदायको चुपचाप बैठे देख भीष्मजीने पाद्य-अर्घ्य आदिके द्वारा सब महर्षियोंकी यथोचित पूजा करके उन्हें अपने राज्य तथा राष्ट्रका कुशल-समाचार निवेदन किया। तब उन महर्षियोंमें जो सबसे अधिक वृद्ध थे, वे जटा और मृगचर्म धारण करनेवाले मुनि अन्य सब ऋषियोंकी अनुमति लेकर इस प्रकार बोले---
bhīṣmo rājyaṃ ca rāṣṭraṃ ca maharṣibhyo nyavedayat | teṣām atho vṛddhatamaḥ pratyutthāya jaṭājinī | ṛṣīṇāṃ matam ājñāya maharṣir idam abravīt, rājan |
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Bhīṣma duly honored the assembled great seers with the customary offerings—water for the feet, arghya, and the like—and then reported to them the welfare of his kingdom and realm. Seeing the gathered people seated in respectful silence, the eldest among those sages—an ascetic wearing matted locks and a deer-skin—rose, sought the consent of the other ṛṣis, and then addressed the king as follows.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler sustains dharma by honoring spiritual authority and proper etiquette: Bhīṣma first performs due hospitality to the sages and then reports the welfare of the kingdom, showing that governance is accountable to ethical and ascetic counsel.
Bhīṣma welcomes and worships the visiting maharṣis with traditional offerings and informs them about the condition of the kingdom and realm. The eldest sage, after obtaining the consent of the other ṛṣis, rises and begins to speak to the king.