Shloka 33
Adhyāya 57: Tapas–Dāna Phala
On the Fruits of Austerity and Giving
शिरसा वन्दनीयं तमवन्दत च पार्थिव: । उन्होंने राजाकी ओर देखकर कहा--'भूपाल! शीघ्र यहाँ आओ।” उनके इस प्रकार आदेश देनेपर पत्नीसहित राजा उनके पास गये तथा उन वन्दनीय महामुनिको उन्होंने मस्तक झुकाकर प्रणाम किया ।। तस्याशिष: प्रयुज्याथ स मुनिस्तं नराधिपम्
śirasā vandanīyaṃ tam avandata ca pārthivaḥ | tasyāśiṣaḥ prayujyātha sa muniḥ taṃ narādhipam |
Bhishma said: The king bowed his head and paid reverence to that venerable sage, worthy of salutation. Then, having bestowed his blessings, the great ascetic addressed the ruler—showing how rightful authority is to be exercised with humility before spiritual merit, and how dharma is upheld when power honors wisdom.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Worldly power is refined by humility: a king upholds dharma when he honors spiritual excellence, seeks blessings, and submits ego before wisdom.
A king approaches a venerable sage, bows with his head in reverence, and the sage then bestows blessings and proceeds to address him.