Adhyaya 71 — The King’s Remorse and the Sage’s Counsel on the Necessity of a Wife
अवरुह्य रथात् सोऽथ तं समेत्य प्रणम्य च ।
यथावृत्तं समाचख्यौ राक्षसेन समागमम् ॥
avaruhya rathāt so 'tha taṃ sametya praṇamya ca / yathāvṛttaṃ samācakhyau rākṣasena samāgamam
Descendu du char, il s’approcha du sage, s’inclina, puis raconta les événements tels qu’ils s’étaient produits—sa rencontre avec le rākṣasa.
Humility and accuracy are prerequisites for dharmic guidance: the king bows and presents facts without concealment, enabling correct moral diagnosis.
Itihāsa-like episode within manvantara frame, showcasing the purāṇic social ideal of king under sage-guidance.
The descent from the chariot symbolizes stepping down from ego and authority before wisdom—an inner surrender enabling transformation.