Shloka 13
Vidura’s Message to Dhṛtarāṣṭra: Authorization for Dāna and Public Welfare (विदुरवाक्यम्—दानानुज्ञा)
भार्या समभवद् यस्य नर्मदा सरितां वरा | सो<स्मिन्नरण्ये नृपतिस्तपस्तप्त्वा दिवं गत:
bhāryā samabhavad yasya narmadā saritāṃ varā | so 'sminn araṇye nṛpatis tapas taptvā divaṃ gataḥ || nareśvara māndhātāke putra purukutsena hi saritāṃ śreṣṭhā narmadā yasyā bhāryā babhūva | sa ihaiva vane tapasyā mahāṃ siddhiṃ prāptavān | ihaiva tapasyā kṛtvā sa nṛpaḥ svargalokaṃ gataḥ ||
Nārada dit : «Le roi pour qui Narmadā —la plus noble des rivières— devint épouse, accomplit des austérités dans cette même forêt puis monta au ciel. Ô seigneur des hommes, c’était Purukutsa, fils de Māndhātṛ. Ici même il pratiqua le tapas, obtint une grande réalisation, et d’ici il gagna le monde céleste.»
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical-spiritual ideal that disciplined austerity (tapas), when undertaken rightly, yields profound attainment (siddhi) and can lead to exalted destiny (svarga). It also frames kingship as compatible with spiritual striving, not merely worldly power.
Nārada points to the sanctity of the forest by recalling an earlier king, Purukutsa (son of Māndhātṛ), whose extraordinary connection with the river Narmadā and whose tapas performed in this very place culminated in great siddhi and ascent to heaven.