नरेश्वर! उसके निकट पहुँचकर बुद्धिमान् नागेन्द्र, जो स्वभावसे ही धर्मानुरागी थे, मधुर वाणीमें बोले-- ।। ॥/ 0
nareśvara! tasya nikaṭam upasaṅgamya buddhimān nāgendraḥ, yaḥ svabhāvata eva dharmānurāgī āsīt, madhuravāṇyā uvāca—
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai raja, setelah mendekatinya, sang penguasa ular yang bijaksana—yang secara tabii mencintai dharma—berkata dengan suara yang lembut dan manis.”
भीष्म उवाच
The verse foregrounds ethical communication: a truly dharma-inclined person approaches respectfully and speaks with sweetness, suggesting that righteousness is expressed not only in actions but also in manner and speech.
Bhīṣma narrates that a wise nāga-king comes close to the person in question and begins to speak gently, setting up the counsel or instruction that follows in the next verses.