Shloka 22
तब मुनिने कहा--राजन्! आपके उस पुत्रने पहले कभी मूढ़ बुद्धिका आश्रय लेकर अपने दुर्भाग्यके कारण एक पूजनीय महर्षिका अपमान कर दिया था ।। अर्थयन् कलशं राजन् काज्चनं वल्कलानि च | अवज्ञापूर्वकेनापि न सम्पादितवांस्तत: । निर्विण्ण: स तु विप्रर्षि्निसिश: समपद्यत,राजन्! वे उससे एक सुवर्णमय कलश और वल्कल माँग रहे थे। आपके पुत्रने अवहेलना करके भी महर्षिकी वह इच्छा पूरी नहीं की; इससे वे विप्र ऋषि अत्यन्त खिन्न और निराश हो गये थे
bhīṣma uvāca | arthayan kalaśaṃ rājan kāñcanaṃ valkalāni ca | avajñāpūrvakeṇāpi na sampāditavāṃs tataḥ | nirviṇṇaḥ sa tu viprarṣiḥ niśiśe samapadyata rājan ||
Bhishma said: “O King, your son, having once resorted to foolish judgment and driven by his own ill fortune, earlier insulted a venerable great sage. The sage requested a golden water-pot and bark-garments; yet your son, even after showing contempt, did not procure what was asked. Therefore that Brahmin seer became deeply disheartened and, in the night, resolved upon a course of action (born of disappointment).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler (and his heirs) must uphold dharma through humility and respectful conduct toward the wise; contempt and refusal to honor a righteous request can trigger grave moral and practical consequences.
Bhishma recounts an earlier incident: the king’s son insulted a revered Brahmin sage and failed to provide a requested golden vessel and bark-garments; the sage, distressed, then resolved at night to take some consequential step.