Shloka 23
Marutta Seeks a Priest: Bṛhaspati’s Refusal and Nārada’s Guidance to Saṃvarta
Chapter 6
तस्या द्वारं समासाद्य न्यसेथा: कुणपं क्वचित् | त॑ दृष्टवा यो निवर्तेत संवर्त: स महीपते
tasyā dvāraṃ samāsādya nyasethāḥ kuṇapaṃ kvacit | taṃ dṛṣṭvā yo nivarteta saṃvartaḥ sa mahīpate |
Nārada berkata: “Pergilah ke pintu gerbang kota itu dan, di suatu tempat di sana, letakkanlah sekujur mayat. Wahai tuan penguasa bumi! Sesiapa yang, apabila melihat mayat itu, segera berpaling dan berundur—ketahuilah dialah Saṃvarta. Kemudian ikutilah resi yang perkasa itu ke mana sahaja dia pergi. Apabila dia tiba di tempat yang sunyi, hampirilah dengan tangan dirapatkan dan mohon perlindungan.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights discernment and humility: identify true spiritual power by its reaction to impurity and fear, then approach such a sage not with force but with reverent surrender, seeking guidance in a secluded, respectful setting.
Nārada instructs the king to place a corpse at the city gate as a test. The person who turns back upon seeing it is to be recognized as the sage Saṃvarta. The king should then follow him discreetly and, when the sage is alone, approach with folded hands and request protection and instruction.