Shloka 16
Āśramamaṇḍala-darśana and Ṛṣi-samāgama
Observation of the Hermitage Precinct and the Assembly of Sages
ये च पक्षधरा धर्मे सद्वृत्तरुचयश्च ये । यान् दृष्टवा हीयते पापं तेभ्य: कार्या नमस्क्रिया,जो लोग धर्मके पक्षपाती हैं, जो सदाचारके पालनमें रुचि रखते हैं तथा जिनके दर्शनसे पापका नाश होता है, उन महात्माओंको अब तुम्हें नमस्कार करना चाहिये
ye ca pakṣadharā dharme sadvṛttarucayaś ca ye | yān dṛṣṭvā hīyate pāpaṁ tebhyaḥ kāryā namaskriyā ||
And those too who uphold the side of dharma, who delight in the practice of good conduct, and whose very sight diminishes sin—such great-souled persons should now be saluted by you with reverence.
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should honor and bow to those who stand with dharma and cherish virtuous conduct, because association with such people—even merely seeing them—has a purifying effect that reduces moral taint (pāpa).
Āstīka is giving an instruction about proper conduct: he points out the kind of noble persons—supporters of dharma and lovers of good behavior—who deserve respectful salutation, emphasizing their spiritually purifying presence.