Shloka 60
भरतचरितम्—मृगासक्ति-हेतुकः समाधिभङ्गः, जातिस्मरत्वं, रहूगण-जाḍभरत-संवादः
प्रत्यक्षं भवता भूप यद् दृष्टं मम तद् वद बलवान् अबलश् चेति वाच्यं पश्चाद् विशेषणम्
pratyakṣaṃ bhavatā bhūpa yad dṛṣṭaṃ mama tad vada balavān abalaś ceti vācyaṃ paścād viśeṣaṇam
हे राजन्, जो तुमने प्रत्यक्ष देखा है वही मुझे कहो; ‘बलवान’ या ‘अबल’ जैसे भेद तो बाद में केवल विशेषण रूप से कहे जाते हैं।
A counselor/elder addressing a king (bhūpa) within the dynastic narrative frame (as reported in the Purāṇic narration).
FAQs
The verse prioritizes firsthand witnessing as the basis for truthful reporting, advising that judgments like “strong” or “weak” are secondary qualifiers.
It instructs the king to state what was actually seen first, and only then add evaluative descriptions, reflecting disciplined, dharmic communication.
Even within dynastic narratives, the Purāṇa models dharma—truthfulness and right judgment—which ultimately aligns governance with the cosmic order sustained by Vishnu.