Shloka 68
Mohinī-ākhyāna: The Trial of Ekādaśī and the King’s Satya-saṅkalpa
स कथं जायते भूपो मिथ्यावचनसंस्थितः । अश्रुतं भूपतेर्वाक्यं परोक्षे श्रद्दधे कथम् ॥ ६८ ॥
sa kathaṃ jāyate bhūpo mithyāvacanasaṃsthitaḥ | aśrutaṃ bhūpatervākyaṃ parokṣe śraddadhe katham || 68 ||
Comment donc un roi pourrait-il naître et se maintenir dans la parole mensongère ? Et comment, lorsqu’il est absent, pourrais-je accorder foi à une déclaration royale que je n’ai même pas entendue ?
Narada (dialogue context: Narada–Sanatkumara tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
The verse elevates satya (truthfulness) as a foundational dharma: authority and sovereignty lose legitimacy when rooted in false speech, and faith cannot be demanded without trustworthy testimony.
Bhakti is sustained by śraddhā (faith), and this verse clarifies that faith must rest on truth; a devotee’s trust—whether in a teacher, ruler, or tradition—depends on integrity of speech, which protects dharma and supports sincere devotion.
It implicitly points to Nyāya-like standards of pramāṇa (reliable testimony) and disciplined vāṇī (speech), aligning with the Vedāṅga concern for correct expression and truthful communication in dharmic life.