Marutta Seeks a Priest: Bṛhaspati’s Refusal and Nārada’s Guidance to Saṃvarta
Chapter 6
राजर्ष नातिहृष्टोड्सि कच्चित् क्षेमं तवानघ । क्व गतो5सि कुतश्वैदमप्रीतिस्थानमागतम्
rājarṣir nātihṛṣṭo ’si kaccit kṣemaṃ tavānagha | kva gato ’si kutaś caivam aprītisthānam āgatam ||
“Wahai raja-ṛṣi, engkau tampak tidak begitu gembira. Wahai raja yang tidak bercela, adakah semuanya sejahtera bagimu? Ke manakah engkau pergi, dan kerana sebab apakah engkau ditimpa kesempatan dukacita dan ketidakpuasan ini?”
व्यास उवाच
A dharmic guide first inquires into a ruler’s welfare and the cause of inner disturbance; ethical counsel begins with attentive concern, not accusation.
Vyāsa addresses a king-like figure (called a rājarṣi), noticing his lack of cheer, and asks whether all is well and what event or journey has led to his present sorrow.