Shloka 38
Kuvalāśva’s Lineage and Uttaṅka’s Petition concerning Dhundhu (धुन्धु-प्रसङ्गः)
अथ कस्यचित् कालस्य तस्यां कुमारास्त्रय-स्तस्य राज्ञ: सम्बभूवु: शलो दलो बलश्नेति । तत-स्तेषां ज्येष्ठ शलं समये पिता राज्येडभिषिच्य तपसि धृतात्मा वनं जगाम,“कुछ कालके पश्चात् सुशोभनाके गर्भसे राजा परीक्षितके तीन पुत्र हुए--शल, दल और बल। इनमें शल सबसे बड़ा था। समय आनेपर पिताने शलका राज्याभिषेक करके स्वयं तपस्यामें मन लगाये तपोवनको प्रस्थान किया
atha kasyacit kālasya tasyāṃ kumārās trayaḥ tasya rājñaḥ sambabhūvuḥ—śalo dalo balaś ceti | tataḥ teṣāṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ śalaṃ samaye pitā rājye ’bhiṣicya tapasī dhṛtātmā vanaṃ jagāma |
Vaiśampāyana said: After some time, three sons were born to that king through her—Śala, Dala, and Bala. Of them, Śala was the eldest. When the proper time came, the father installed Śala as king and, with his mind firmly set on austerity, departed for the forest to pursue ascetic practice.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic model of life: ensuring orderly succession and stability of the kingdom through abhiṣeka, and then turning toward self-discipline and spiritual pursuit (tapas) with a controlled mind (dhṛtātmā).
After some time, the king has three sons—Śala, Dala, and Bala. When the time is right, he installs the eldest, Śala, on the throne and then leaves for the forest to undertake ascetic practice.