Shloka 122
Śoka-śamana: Kṛṣṇa’s Consolation and Nārada’s Exempla to Sṛñjaya
Chapter 29
'सूंजय! संकृतिके पुत्र राज रन्तिदेव भी कालके गालमें चले गये, यह हमारे सुननेमें आया है। उन महातपस्वी नरेशने इन्द्रकी अच्छी तरह आराधना करके उनसे यह वर माँगा कि “हमारे पास अन्न बहुत हो, हम सदा अतिथियोंकी सेवाका अवसर प्राप्त करें, हमारी श्रद्धा दूर न हो और हम किसीसे कुछ भी न माँगें' ।।
Sūñjaya! Saṅkṛtike putro rājā Rantidevo bhī Kālaka-gāleṃ cale gaye, iti asmākaṃ śravaṇam āgatam. Sa mahātapā nṛpo Indram suṣṭhu ārādhya tataḥ idaṃ varaṃ yayāce—“asmākaṃ sannidhau annaṃ bahu syāt, vayaṃ sadā atithi-sevāyāḥ avasaraṃ labhemahi, asmākaṃ śraddhā na dūre bhavet, vayaṃ ca kasyacit kiñcid api na yācema.” Upātiṣṭhanta paśavaḥ svayaṃ taṃ saṃśita-vratam; grāmyāraṇyā mahātmānaṃ Rantidevaṃ yaśasvinam.
Vāyu berkata: “Wahai Sṛñjaya, kami mendengar bahwa Raja Rantideva, putra Saṅkṛti, pun telah pergi ke rahang Kāla (Maut). Raja pertapa agung itu, setelah memuja Śakra (Indra) dengan semestinya, memohon anugerah ini: ‘Semoga makanan berlimpah di rumah kami; semoga kami senantiasa memperoleh kesempatan melayani tamu; semoga śraddhā kami tidak surut; dan semoga kami tak perlu meminta apa pun kepada siapa pun.’ Maka terjadilah: hewan-hewan, baik ternak maupun liar, datang dengan sendirinya untuk kurban, menghadap Rantideva yang masyhur, berhati luhur, dan teguh dalam laku tapa yang keras.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma through hospitality and selfless giving: a righteous ruler seeks not power but the capacity to feed others, serve guests continually, keep faith steady, and avoid dependence on begging—showing that ethical kingship is grounded in generosity, restraint, and devotion.
Vāyu recounts what is heard about King Rantideva’s life and passing: after worshipping Indra, Rantideva receives boons aligned with service and abundance; as a result, animals—domestic and wild—come of their own accord for sacrificial purposes, underscoring his fame and strict observance of vows.