Shloka 50
Ṛśyaśṛṅgopākhyāna-praveśaḥ — Lomāśa narrates the origins of Ṛśyaśṛṅga and the Anga drought (ऋश्यशृङ्गोपाख्यान-प्रवेशः)
राजानमागरतं श्रुत्वा प्रतिसंजहृषु: प्रजा: । ततो$ज्भपतिराहूय सचिवान् मन्त्रकोविदान्,राजाका आगमन सुनकर प्रजाजनोंको बड़ा हर्ष हुआ। तदनन्तर अंगराज मन्त्रकुशल मन्त्रियोंको बुलाकर उनसे सलाह करके एक निश्चयपर पहुँच जानेके बाद मुनिकुमार ऋष्यशृंगको अपने यहाँ ले आनेके प्रयत्नमें लग गये। राजाके मन्त्री शास्त्रज्ञ, अर्थशास्त्रके विद्वान् और नीतिनिपुण थे। अपनी मर्यादासे कभी च्युत न होनेवाले नरेशने उन मन्त्रियोंके साथ विचार करके एक उपाय जान लिया। तत्पश्चात् भूपाल लोमपादने दूसरोंको लुभानेकी सब कलाओंमें कुशल प्रधान-प्रधान वेश्याओंको बुलाया और कहा--“तुमलोग कोई उपाय करके मुनिकुमार ऋष्यशृंंगको यहाँ ले आओ
rājānam āgataṃ śrutvā pratisaṃjahṛṣuḥ prajāḥ | tato 'ṅgapatir āhūya sacivān mantrakovidān |
Hearing that the king had arrived, the people rejoiced greatly. Then the lord of Aṅga (King Lomapāda) summoned his ministers skilled in counsel, intending to deliberate and settle upon a course of action—one that would lead to bringing the sage’s son Ṛṣyaśṛṅga to his own realm.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a key element of rājadharma: a ruler should act through informed deliberation with competent ministers. It also implicitly raises an ethical question—political objectives may tempt leaders toward manipulative means, so prudence must be balanced with dharmic restraint.
The people celebrate the king’s arrival. King Lomapāda then calls in his expert ministers to consult and decide on a plan, setting up the subsequent effort to bring the ascetic youth Ṛṣyaśṛṅga into his realm.