Shloka 13
Vidura’s Message to Dhṛtarāṣṭra: Authorization for Dāna and Public Welfare (विदुरवाक्यम्—दानानुज्ञा)
भार्या समभवद् यस्य नर्मदा सरितां वरा | सो<स्मिन्नरण्ये नृपतिस्तपस्तप्त्वा दिवं गत:,नरेश्वर! मान्धाताके पुत्र पुरुकुत्सने भी, सरिताओंमें श्रेष्ठ नर्मदा जिनकी पत्नी हुई थी, इसी वनमें तपस्या करके बहुत बड़ी सिद्धि प्राप्त की थी। यहीं तपस्या करके वे नरेश स्वर्गलोकमें गये थे
bhāryā samabhavad yasya narmadā saritāṃ varā | so 'sminn araṇye nṛpatis tapas taptvā divaṃ gataḥ || nareśvara māndhātāke putra purukutsena hi saritāṃ śreṣṭhā narmadā yasyā bhāryā babhūva | sa ihaiva vane tapasyā mahāṃ siddhiṃ prāptavān | ihaiva tapasyā kṛtvā sa nṛpaḥ svargalokaṃ gataḥ ||
ನಾರದನು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ನದಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠಳಾದ ನರ್ಮದಾ ಯಾರಿಗೆ ಪತ್ನಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದಳೋ, ಆ ರಾಜನು ಈ ಅರಣ್ಯದಲ್ಲೇ ತಪಸ್ಸು ಮಾಡಿ ನಂತರ ಸ್ವರ್ಗಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋದನು. ಓ ನರೇಶ್ವರ, ಅವನೇ ಮಾಂಧಾತೃನ ಪುತ್ರ ಪುರೂಕುತ್ಸ.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical-spiritual ideal that disciplined austerity (tapas), when undertaken rightly, yields profound attainment (siddhi) and can lead to exalted destiny (svarga). It also frames kingship as compatible with spiritual striving, not merely worldly power.
Nārada points to the sanctity of the forest by recalling an earlier king, Purukutsa (son of Māndhātṛ), whose extraordinary connection with the river Narmadā and whose tapas performed in this very place culminated in great siddhi and ascent to heaven.