Shloka 18
Nārada’s Exempla of Tapas and Assurance to Dhṛtarāṣṭra (नारदोपदेशः—तपःसिद्ध्युदाहरणम्)
स तमभ्यर्च्य राजानं नाम संश्राव्य चात्मन: । निषीदेत्यभ्यनुज्ञातो बृस्यामुपविवेश ह
sa tam abhyarcya rājānaṃ nāma saṃśrāvya cātmanaḥ | niṣīdety abhyanujñāto bṛsyām upaviveśa ha ||
Ia menghormati sang raja dengan sembah bakti dan menyebutkan namanya sendiri. Setelah diizinkan dengan kata-kata, “Duduklah,” ia pun duduk di atas alas dari rumput kuśa.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dhārmic etiquette: even a victorious ruler approaches an elder king with reverence, states his identity plainly, waits for permission, and only then takes a humble seat—showing restraint, humility, and respect as ethical duties.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, Yudhiṣṭhira (or the approaching person, as clarified by the traditional gloss) honors King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, announces his name, receives the instruction to sit, and then sits on a simple kuśa-grass seat, fitting the forest/āśrama context of the Āśramavāsika Parva.