Shloka 20
निर्वेदोपदेशः (Nirveda-Upadeśa) — Maṅki’s Dispassion and the Limits of Wealth-Seeking
विदितश्नाभवत् तस्य राक्षसेन्द्रस्य धीमत: । प्रहित: सुह्ददा राजन् प्रीयमाण: प्रियातिथि:
viditaś ca abhavat tasya rākṣasendrasya dhīmataḥ | prahitaḥ suhṛdā rājan prīyamāṇaḥ priyātithiḥ ||
तब उस परम बुद्धिमान राक्षसेन्द्र को यह ज्ञात हुआ कि, राजन्, एक सुहृद् मित्र द्वारा भेजा गया प्रिय अतिथि प्रसन्नचित्त होकर आया है।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights atithi-dharma (the duty of honoring a guest) and the ethical importance of recognizing goodwill: a wise ruler takes note when a friend sends an envoy/guest, and responds with appropriate respect and discernment.
News reaches a wise Rākṣasa-king that a beloved guest has been dispatched to him by a friendly well-wisher; the guest arrives in a pleased, amicable disposition, setting a tone of courteous reception and diplomatic goodwill.