Shloka 23
स्पृष्टवा मूर्थनि तान् पुत्रांस्तापसी वाक्यमब्रवीत् | दौहित्रास्तव राजेन्द्र मम पुत्रा न ते परा:
spṛṣṭvā mūrdhani tān putrāṁs tāpasī vākyam abravīt | dauhitrās tava rājendra mama putrā na te parāḥ ||
ಆ ಪುತ್ರರ ತಲೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಕೈಯಿಟ್ಟು ತಪಸ್ವಿನಿ ಹೇಳಿದಳು—“ರಾಜೇಂದ್ರ, ಇವರು ನಿನ್ನ ದೌಹಿತ್ರರು, ನನ್ನ ಪುತ್ರರು; ನಿನಗೆ ಪರರಲ್ಲ.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts that familial bonds create moral obligations: one should not regard close kin as ‘others.’ Recognizing shared lineage is presented as an ethical ground for protection, care, and restraint from harm.
A female ascetic, after affectionately touching the sons on their heads, addresses a king and reminds him that the boys are his grandsons and also her sons—therefore they should not be treated as outsiders. The gesture and speech function as a plea grounded in kinship.