Shloka 1
Ulūpī–Citravāhinī Saṃvāda: Dhanaṃjaya-patana and Prāya-threat
वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! मणिपुरनरेश बशभ्रुवाहनने जब सुना कि मेरे पिता आये हैं, तब वह ब्राह्मणोंको आगे करके बहुत-सा धन साथमें लेकर बड़ी विनयके साथ उनके दर्शनके लिये नगरसे बाहर निकला
Vaiśampāyana uvāca—Janamejaya! Maṇipura-nareśaḥ Babhruvāhanaḥ yadā śuśrāva yat me pitā āgataḥ, tadā sa brāhmaṇān puraskṛtya bahu dhanaṃ sahāyaṃ gṛhītvā mahā-vinayena tasya darśanārthaṃ nagarād bahiḥ niṣkrāntaḥ.
Vaiśampāyana said: “O Janamejaya, when Babhruvāhana, the king of Maṇipura, heard that my father had arrived, he went out of the city to meet him. Placing Brahmins at the forefront and bringing abundant wealth with him, he approached with great humility to pay his respects.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic kingship expressed through humility and proper reception: honoring Brahmins, offering gifts, and approaching elders with reverence. Ethical leadership is shown not by power but by courteous conduct and respect for social and spiritual order.
Vaiśampāyana tells Janamejaya that Babhruvāhana, the ruler of Maṇipura, hears of the arrival of the narrator’s father and goes outside the city to receive him. He leads with Brahmins, brings wealth as offerings, and meets him with great humility.