Shloka 22
Adhyāya 73: Damayantī’s Investigation of Bāhuka
Keśinī’s Observations
कि कार्य स्वागत ते<स्तु राज्ञा पृष्ट: स भारत,भरतनन्दन युधिष्ठिर! विदर्भराजने स्वागत-पूर्वक ऋतुपर्णसे पूछा--“आपके यहाँ पधारनेका क्या कारण है?”
kiṁ kāryaṁ svāgataṁ te 'stu rājñā pṛṣṭaḥ sa bhārata bharatanandana yudhiṣṭhira | vidarbharājena svāgata-pūrvakam ṛtupārṇase pṛcchā—“bhavataḥ iha pādārpaṇe kāraṇaṁ kim?”
そこで王は、しかるべき歓待を施したのち、その来意を問うた。おおバーラタよ、バーラタ族の喜びユディシュティラよ――ヴィダルバの王は礼を尽くしてリトゥパルナに尋ねた。「ここへ来られた理由は何であるか。」この場面は王者の作法を示す。まずもてなしを尽くし、その後にこそ、来訪の意図を敬意をもって問いただすのである。
बृहदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic conduct in kingship: a ruler should first honor a guest with proper welcome and only then inquire into the visitor’s purpose, doing so respectfully and without suspicion.
Within Bṛhadaśva’s narration to Yudhiṣṭhira, the king of Vidarbha receives Ṛtupārṇa courteously and asks why he has come—setting up the next developments in the Nala episode.