Shloka 12
Vṛddha-kanyā-carita and Balarāma’s Kurukṣetra Inquiry (वृद्धकन्या-चरितम् / कुरुक्षेत्रफल-प्रश्नः)
ऋषिसंसदि तं दृष्टवा सा नदी मुनिसत्तमम् | ततः प्रोवाच राजेन्द्र ददती पुत्रमस्य तम्,राजेन्द्र! ऋषियोंकी सभामें बैठे हुए मुनिश्रेष्ठ दधीचको देखकर उन्हें उनका वह पुत्र सौंपती हुई सरस्वती नदी इस प्रकार बोली--
ṛṣi-saṃsadi taṃ dṛṣṭvā sā nadī muni-sattamam | tataḥ provāca rājendra dadatī putram asya tam ||
Seeing the foremost sage Dadhīca seated in the assembly of seers, the river Sarasvatī, as she handed over his son to him, addressed him in these words—O best of kings.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is upheld through rightful restoration and reverence: the act of returning a son to his father is performed in the presence of the ṛṣis’ assembly, highlighting accountability before the wise and the sanctity of proper guardianship.
Sarasvatī, personified as a river-goddess, sees the sage Dadhīca seated among the sages and, while handing over his son to him, begins to speak—setting up the next lines of dialogue.