Shloka 1
Ulūpī–Citravāhinī Saṃvāda: Dhanaṃjaya-patana and Prāya-threat
वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! मणिपुरनरेश बशभ्रुवाहनने जब सुना कि मेरे पिता आये हैं, तब वह ब्राह्मणोंको आगे करके बहुत-सा धन साथमें लेकर बड़ी विनयके साथ उनके दर्शनके लिये नगरसे बाहर निकला
Vaiśampāyana uvāca—Janamejaya! Maṇipura-nareśaḥ Babhruvāhanaḥ yadā śuśrāva yat me pitā āgataḥ, tadā sa brāhmaṇān puraskṛtya bahu dhanaṃ sahāyaṃ gṛhītvā mahā-vinayena tasya darśanārthaṃ nagarād bahiḥ niṣkrāntaḥ.
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Ô Janamejaya ! Lorsque Babhruvāhana, roi de Maṇipura, apprit que mon père était arrivé, il sortit de la cité pour aller à sa rencontre. Plaçant les brahmanes en tête et emportant de grandes richesses, il s’avança avec une profonde humilité pour lui rendre hommage.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic kingship expressed through humility and proper reception: honoring Brahmins, offering gifts, and approaching elders with reverence. Ethical leadership is shown not by power but by courteous conduct and respect for social and spiritual order.
Vaiśampāyana tells Janamejaya that Babhruvāhana, the ruler of Maṇipura, hears of the arrival of the narrator’s father and goes outside the city to receive him. He leads with Brahmins, brings wealth as offerings, and meets him with great humility.