Shloka 16
Dharma-vyādha on the Subtlety of Dharma, Karma, and the Continuity of the Jīva (Āraṇyaka-parva 200)
ही 2 स॒राजाब्रवीत् तिष्ठ तावद्ू यावदिमौ वृद्धी यथास्थानं,“देवदूतकी यह बात सुनकर राजाने कहा--“जबतक इन दोनों वृद्धोंको इनके स्थानपर पहुँचा न दूँ तबतक ठहरे रहो”
vaiśampāyana uvāca | sā rājābravīt—tiṣṭha tāvad yāvad imau vṛddhau yathāsthānaṃ (prāpayāmi) | devadūtikī etāṃ bātāṃ śrutvā rājā uvāca—“yāvat etau vṛddhau svayoḥ sthāne prāpayāmi tāvat tiṣṭhata” |
Vaiśampāyana said: Hearing this, the king replied, “Wait here for a while, until I escort these two elderly persons back to their proper place.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma in action: a ruler prioritizes the protection and proper care of the elderly, showing that authority is fulfilled through responsibility, patience, and compassion rather than haste.
After hearing a message, the king instructs the messenger/others to wait, stating he will first escort two old persons back to their rightful place before proceeding.