Shloka 2
धौन्धुमारोपाख्यानम्
Dhaundhumāra-Upākhyāna: The Slaying of Dhundhu and the Epithet ‘Dhundhumāra’
कथितं ब्राह्मणमहाभाग्यं राजन्यमहाभाग्यमिदानीं शुश्रूषामह इति तानुवाच मार्कण्डेयो महर्षि: श्रूयता-मिति इदानीं राजन्यानां महाभाग्यमिति | कुरूणामन्य- तमः सुहोत्रो नाम राजा महर्षीनभिगम्य निवृत्य रथस्थमेव राजानमौशीनरं शिबिं ददर्शाभिमुखं तौ समेत्य परस्परेण यथावय: पूजां प्रयुज्य गुणसाम्येन परस्परेण तुल्यात्मानौ विदित्वान्योन्यस्थ पन्थानं न ददतुस्तत्र नारद: प्रादुरासीत् किमिदं भवन्न्तौ परस्परस्य पन्थानमावृत्य तिष्तत इति,“मुनिवर! आपने ब्राह्मणोंके माहात्म्यका तो वर्णन किया, अब हम क्षत्रियोंकी महत्ताके विषयमें इस समय कुछ सुनना चाहते हैं।! यह बात सुनकर महर्षि मार्कण्डेयने कहा --“अच्छा सुनो। अब मैं क्षत्रियोंके माहात्म्यका वर्णन करता हूँ। कुरुवंशी क्षत्रियोंमें सुहोत्र नामसे प्रसिद्ध एक राजा हो गये हैं। एक दिन वे महर्षियोंका सत्संग करके जब वहाँसे लौट रहे थे, उस समय उन्होंने अपने सामने ही रथपर बैठे हुए उशीनरपुत्र राजा शिबिको देखा। निकट आनेपर उन दोनोंने अवस्थाके अनुसार एक-दूसरेका सम्मान किया। परंतु गुणमें अपनेको बराबर समझकर एकने दूसरेके लिये राह नहीं दी। इतनेहीमें वहाँ देवर्षि नारदजी प्रकट हो गये और पूछ बैठे “यह क्या बात है” जो कि तुम दोनों इस तरह एक-दूसरेका मार्ग रोककर खड़े हो?"
vaiśampāyana uvāca | kathitaṃ brāhmaṇa-mahābhāgyaṃ rājanya-mahābhāgyam idānīṃ śuśrūṣāmaha iti tān uvāca mārkaṇḍeyo maharṣiḥ—śrūyatām iti | idānīṃ rājanyānāṃ mahābhāgyam iti | kurūṇām anyatamaḥ suhotro nāma rājā maharṣīn abhigamya nivṛtya ratha-stham eva rājānam auśīnaraṃ śibiṃ dadarśa abhimukham | tau sametya paraspareṇa yathāvayaḥ pūjāṃ prayujya guṇa-sāmyena paraspareṇa tulyātmānau viditvā anyonya-stha panthānaṃ na dadatuḥ | tatra nāradaḥ prādurāsīt—kim idaṃ bhavantau parasparasya panthānam āvṛtya tiṣṭhata iti ||
Vaiśampāyana said: When the listeners said, “You have described the great blessedness and excellence of the brāhmaṇas; now we wish to hear, at this time, about the excellence of the kṣatriyas,” the sage Mārkaṇḍeya replied, “Listen then. Now I shall relate the great distinction of the royal order.” Among the Kurus there was a king named Suhotra. Once, after visiting and paying respects to great seers, he was returning when he saw, facing him, King Śibi, the Auśīnara, seated upon his chariot. Drawing near, the two honored one another according to age and status; yet, considering themselves equal in merit, neither yielded the roadway to the other. At that moment the divine sage Nārada appeared and asked, “What is this, sirs, that you stand here blocking one another’s path?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when two persons are comparable in status and virtue, dharma is upheld through humility and proper conduct; refusing to yield out of self-equality can become pride, inviting correction by a higher moral authority (here, Nārada).
Mārkaṇḍeya begins a section on the greatness of kṣatriyas by introducing King Suhotra and King Śibi. After mutual respectful greetings, neither yields the road, and the divine sage Nārada appears to question their obstructive standoff.