Shloka 7
त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma
Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123
एक दिन इन्द्रके सम्मानित सखा उदारचेता शत्रुसूदन राजा मान्धाता उनके दर्शनके लिये आये ।। सोपसृत्य तु मान्धाता वसुहोम॑ नराधिपम् | दृष्टवा प्रकृष्टतपसं विनतोडग्रेडभ्यतिष्ठत,राजा मान्धाता उत्तम तपस्वी अंगनरेश वसुहोमके पास पहुँचकर दर्शन करके उनके सामने विनीतभावसे खड़े हो गये
sopasṛtya tu māndhātā vasuhomaṃ narādhipam | dṛṣṭvā prakṛṣṭatapasaṃ vinato 'gre 'bhyatiṣṭhat ||
Bhishma said: King Māndhātā approached the royal sage Vasuhoma. Seeing him endowed with exalted austerity, Māndhātā bowed in humility and stood respectfully before him—showing that true kingship honors spiritual discipline and seeks counsel through reverence rather than pride.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a powerful king should honor spiritual excellence: humility before tapas and respectful approach to the virtuous are presented as marks of dharmic leadership.
King Māndhātā goes to see Vasuhoma; upon witnessing his great austerity, Māndhātā bows and stands before him in reverent attendance, setting the tone for counsel grounded in dharma.