Shloka 20
Ānṛśaṃsya, Amātya-Guṇa, and Reconciliatory Counsel (आनृशंस्य–अमात्यगुण–संधि-उपदेशः)
इत्युक्त: प्रत्युवाचेदं वचन ब्राह्मणर्षभम् । प्रतिपूज्याभिसत्कृत्य पूजाहमनुमान्य च
ity uktaḥ pratyuvācedaṃ vacanaṃ brāhmaṇarṣabham | pratipūjyābhisatkṛtya pūjāham anumānya ca ||
ビーシュマは言った。「そのように告げられると、王は最上のバラモンに次の言葉で答えた。まず礼を尽くして供養し、しかるべき敬意をもって迎え、彼にふさわしい崇敬を受け入れたうえで、王は語り出した——正しきダルマにかなう諫言は、驕りではなく、謙虚さと歓待、そしてダルマを喜んで受け入れる心によって迎えるべきであることを示しながら。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should receive moral and spiritual counsel with reverence—honoring the wise, showing proper hospitality, and assenting to what is right before speaking or acting. Respectful reception of dharmic instruction is itself a form of righteous conduct.
After a Brahmin-sage has spoken, the king—having been addressed—first performs due honor and respectful welcome, approves the propriety of that reverence, and then begins his reply. Bhishma narrates this as part of Shanti Parva’s instruction on conduct and governance.