Shloka 73
भरतचरितम्—मृगासक्ति-हेतुकः समाधिभङ्गः, जातिस्मरत्वं, रहूगण-जाḍभरत-संवादः
एवम् उक्त्वाभवन् मौनी स वहञ् छिबिकां द्विजः सो ऽपि राजावतीर्योर्व्यां तत्पादौ जगृहे त्वरन्
evam uktvābhavan maunī sa vahañ chibikāṃ dvijaḥ so 'pi rājāvatīryorvyāṃ tatpādau jagṛhe tvaran
Having spoken thus, the twice-born bearer fell silent, still carrying the palanquin. The king quickly descended to the ground and, in haste, clasped the ascetic’s feet.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Concept: True sovereignty bows to wisdom: the ascetic’s silence and restraint embody dharma, prompting the king to abandon pride and seek guidance.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Honor spiritual insight over social rank; cultivate the courage to apologize and learn.
Vishishtadvaita: Reverence to the saintly aligns with bhakti’s discipline: surrender of ego as a step toward dependence on the Supreme (śaraṇāgati ethos, implicit).
Bhakti Type: dasya
FAQs
It marks the king’s submission to dharma: political sovereignty is shown as secondary to spiritual-moral authority embodied by the ascetic.
Through narrative example: the ruler does not retaliate or assert rank, but descends, honors the dvija, and accepts correction—modeling self-restraint and reverence for dharma.
Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana frames dharma as part of Vishnu’s cosmic order—true kingship aligns with that higher, sustaining reality rather than ego or force.