Shloka 17
सुरभि–इन्द्रसंवादः
Surabhi–Indra Dialogue as a Governance Exemplar
दस्यूनामिव यद् वृत्तं सभायां कुरुनन्दन । तेन न भ्राजसे राजंस्तापसानां समागमे,कुरुनन्दन! तुम्हारी सभामें डाकुओंकी भाँति जो बर्ताव किया गया है, उसके कारण तुम तपस्वी मुनियोंके समुदायमें शोभा नहीं पा रहे हो
dasyūnām iva yad vṛttaṃ sabhāyāṃ kurunandana | tena na bhrājase rājaṃs tāpasānāṃ samāgame ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O delight of the Kurus, because of the conduct you displayed in the royal assembly—like that of marauders—you do not now shine with honor, O king, in the gathering of ascetic sages.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unrighteous behavior in a public forum (the royal assembly) stains one’s honor and makes one unfit to be esteemed among the virtuous; reputation follows conduct, and the company of sages demands ethical restraint.
Vaiśampāyana rebukes a Kuru king/prince, saying that his earlier disgraceful behavior in the court—likened to that of bandits—now prevents him from being respected in the assembly of ascetics.