Shloka 13

Dhaumya’s Counsel on Incognito Conduct in a Royal Household (राजवसतौ आचरण-निति)

Devanagari script

दृष्टद्वारो लभेद्‌ द्रष्टं राजस्वेषु न विश्वसेत्‌ । तदेवासनमन्विच्छेद्‌ यत्र नाभिपतेत्‌ पर:,राजासे मिलना हो, तो पहले द्वारपालसे मिलकर राजाको सूचना देनी चाहिये और मिलनेके लिये उनकी आज्ञा मँगा लेनी चाहिये। इन राजाओंपर पूर्ण विश्वास कभी न करे। अपने लिये वही आसन पसंद करे, जिसपर दूसरा कोई बैठनेवाला न हो

Transliteration

dṛṣṭa-dvāro labhed draṣṭuṁ rāja-sveṣu na viśvaset | tad evāsanam anvicched yatra nābhipatet paraḥ ||

Translation

Dhaumya dit : «Si l’on souhaite être reçu par un roi, il faut d’abord s’adresser au gardien de la porte et obtenir l’autorisation d’être admis. Il ne faut jamais accorder une confiance entière aux rois. Quant à soi, qu’on ne choisisse qu’un siège que nul autre ne viendra revendiquer ni occuper.»

Word by Word

• {'dṛṣṭa-dvāraḥ': 'having met/seen the doorkeeper

• after approaching the gatekeeper', 'labhet': 'should obtain

• should secure', 'draṣṭum': 'to see

• to have an audience (with the king)', 'rāja-sveṣu': 'in/among kings

• regarding kings', 'na viśvaset': 'should not trust

• should not rely fully', 'tad eva': 'that alone

• only that', 'āsanam': 'seat

• place to sit', 'anvicchet': 'should seek

• should choose', 'yatra': 'where

• in which place', 'na abhipatet': 'does not fall upon

• does not come to (i.e., is not claimed/occupied)', 'paraḥ': 'another person

Speaker

धौग्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• धौम्य (Dhaumya)
• द्वारपाल (doorkeeper/gatekeeper)
• राजा (king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Exercise prudent caution in royal settings: follow proper protocol (seek the gatekeeper and permission), do not place unquestioning trust in kings, and avoid situations that invite conflict—symbolized by choosing a seat no one else will contest.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhaumya gives practical counsel about approaching kings and behaving at court, emphasizing both etiquette and self-protection in politically volatile environments.