Shloka 23
ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins
गत्वा55श्रमपदं रम्यं भरद्वाजस्य धीमत: । जगाम शरणं राजा कृताञज्जलिररिंदम,शत्रुदमन नरेश! बुद्धिमान् भरद्वाजके रमणीय आश्रमपर जाकर राजा दिवोदास हाथ जोड़े हुए वहाँ मुनिकी शरणमें गये
gatvā āśramapadaṁ ramyaṁ bharadvājasya dhīmataḥ | jagāma śaraṇaṁ rājā kṛtāñjalir arindamaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: Setelah tiba di pertapaan yang indah milik Bharadvāja yang bijaksana, sang raja—penunduk musuh—mendekati baginda resi untuk memohon perlindungan, berdiri dengan kedua tangan dirapatkan dalam sembah hormat.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic model of leadership: worldly power is tempered by humility, and a ruler should seek moral and spiritual guidance from a wise sage, approaching with reverence and surrender (śaraṇa) rather than pride.
A king goes to the beautiful hermitage of the sage Bharadvāja and, with folded hands, seeks his protection/refuge—indicating a request for counsel, support, or resolution under the authority of a respected ṛṣi.