Shloka 326
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
पादयोर्न्यपतद् राजा स्वस्ति मे$स्त्विति चाब्रवीत् । राजा दम्भोद्धव सींकोंसे भरे हुए समूचे आकाशको श्वेतवर्ण हुआ देखकर मुनिके चरणोंमें गिर पड़े और बोले--“भगवन्! मेरा कल्याण हो'
pādayor nyapatad rājā svasti me 'stv iti cābravīt |
ರೀಡು-ಬಾಣಗಳಿಂದ ತುಂಬಿದ ಸಮಸ್ತ ಆಕಾಶವೂ ಶ್ವೇತವರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಕಂಡಾಗ ರಾಜ ದಂಭೋದ್ಭವನು ಮುನಿಯ ಪಾದಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿದ್ದು—“ಭಗವನ್! ನನಗೆ ಸ್ವಸ್ತಿ ಇರಲಿ; ನನ್ನ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣವಾಗಲಿ” ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದನು।
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that auspiciousness (svasti) is sought through humility and reverence: even a king, symbol of worldly power, turns to a sage and submits at his feet, implying that dharma and spiritual guidance outrank pride and mere authority.
A king approaches a sage, falls at his feet in a formal act of obeisance, and asks for his welfare—expressed as a blessing request: “May there be well-being for me.”