Shloka 19
Āśramadharma and the Marks of the Muni
Yayāti–Aṣṭaka Saṃvāda
अभिषेक्तुकामं नृपतिं पूरुं पुत्र कनीयसम् । ब्राह्मणप्रमुखा वर्णा इदं वचनमनब्लुवन्,जब ब्राह्मण आदि वर्णोने देखा कि महाराज ययाति अपने छोटे पुत्र पूरको राजाके पदपर अभिषिक्त करना चाहते हैं, तब उनके पास आकर इस प्रकार बोले--
abhīṣektukāmaṁ nṛpatiṁ pūruṁ putra kanīyasam | brāhmaṇapramukhā varṇā idaṁ vacanam abruvan |
Vaiśampāyana said: When the leading members of society—headed by the Brāhmaṇas—saw that King Yayāti wished to consecrate his younger son Pūru as king, they approached and spoke these words, seeking to guide the succession in accordance with accepted norms of dharma and social order.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate kingship is not merely personal preference; it is expected to align with dharma and established social-ethical norms, and wise counsel—especially from respected elders and learned leaders—serves as a corrective to potentially disruptive decisions.
King Yayāti intends to consecrate his younger son Pūru as ruler. Seeing this, the leading groups of society, headed by the Brāhmaṇas, approach the king and begin to address him, implying concern about the propriety and consequences of bypassing customary succession expectations.