Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)
न चैवास्यान्तरं राजन् स ददर्श महात्मन: । कस्यचित्त्वय कालस्य मृगयां गतवान् नृप:
na caivāsyāntaraṃ rājan sa dadarśa mahātmanaḥ | kasyacit tvayā kālasya mṛgayāṃ gatavān nṛpaḥ ||
ಓ ರಾಜನೇ! ಎಷ್ಟೇ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮವಾಗಿ ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಿದರೂ ಆ ಮಹಾತ್ಮನಾದ ರಾಜನಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದೇ ದೋಷವೂ ದುರ್ಬಲ ಬಿಂದುವೂ ಕಾಣಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಕೆಲಕಾಲ ಕಳೆದ ಬಳಿಕ ಆ ರಾಜನು ಮೃಗಯೆಗೆಂದು ಅರಣ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋದನು.
भीष्म उवाच
Even a ruler of strong character may appear faultless to observers, yet dharma warns that circumstances and impulses (such as the lure of hunting) can open a ‘gap’ in vigilance; therefore sustained self-restraint and careful governance of desires are essential.
Bhīṣma continues a story: despite efforts to find any weakness in a noble king, none is seen; later, after some time, that king goes to the forest for hunting, setting up the next turn of events.