Shloka 20
Gārhasthya-Śreṣṭhatā and Kṣatriya-Daṇḍadhāraṇa
Householder Primacy and the Royal Duty of Punishment
तत:ः कदाचिल्लिखित: शंखस्याश्रममागत: । यद्च्छयाथ शंखो<पि निष्क्रान्तो5$भवदाश्रमात्
tataḥ kadācillikhitaḥ śaṅkasyāśramam āgataḥ | yadṛcchayātha śaṅkopy niṣkrānto 'bhavad āśramāt ||
Then, on one occasion, Likhita arrived at Śaṅkha’s hermitage. By chance, Śaṅkha too came out from the hermitage at that very time.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse initiates a dharma-episode: a chance meeting in an ascetic setting becomes the basis for discussing ethical responsibility and proper conduct, showing how moral inquiry often arises from everyday circumstances.
Vyāsa narrates that Likhita arrives at Śaṅkha’s hermitage, and coincidentally Śaṅkha emerges from the hermitage at that moment—setting up their ensuing interaction.