Shloka 116
अध्याय ७४: अक्रोध–क्षमा–निवासनीति
Chapter 74: Non-anger, Forbearance, and the Ethics of Residence
पुरोहितममात्यां श्व सम्प्रहृष्टो <ब्रवीदिदम् । शृण्वन्त्वेतद् भवन्तो<5स्य देवदूतस्य भाषितम्,(वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं-राजन!) ऐसा कहकर देवता तथा तपस्वी ऋषि शकुन्तलाको पतिव्रता बतलाते हुए उसपर फूलोंकी वर्षा करने लगे। पूरुवंशी राजा दुष्यन्त देवताओंकी यह बात सुनकर बड़े प्रसन्न हुए और पुरोहित तथा मन्त्रियोंसे इस प्रकार बोले --“आपलोग इस देवदूतका कथन भलीभाँति सुन लें
purohitam amātyāṁś ca samprakṛṣṭo 'bravīd idam | śṛṇvantv etad bhavanto 'sya devadūtasya bhāṣitam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Delighted, the king addressed his family priest and ministers: “Let all of you listen carefully to the words spoken by this divine messenger.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Public authority—especially a king—should conform to dharma when credible testimony (here, divine proclamation) establishes the truth. The verse highlights responsible governance: the ruler consults and informs priests and ministers, grounding action in validated righteousness rather than private doubt.
After the gods’ messenger speaks, the king becomes joyful and formally addresses his priest and ministers, asking them to listen attentively to the messenger’s words—setting the stage for accepting the divine confirmation of Śakuntalā’s virtue and resolving the dispute.