Shloka 20
रूपवान् सुभगो दान्त: सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रिय: । दानमानगृहीतश्न कार्यो भवति वाचक:
rūpavān subhago dāntaḥ satyavādī jitendriyaḥ | dānamānagṛhītaś ca kāryo bhavati vācakaḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Seseorang yang tampan dan bertuah, menahan diri, berkata benar, serta menguasai pancaindera—sarjana seperti itu, apabila dimuliakan dan disokong dengan dana serta penghormatan, hendaklah dilantik sebagai vācaka (pembaca/penyampai).”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that a public expounder/reciter of sacred narrative should be ethically qualified—truthful, disciplined, and self-mastered—and that society should support such a person with gifts and honor, linking moral authority with responsible patronage.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a normative guideline is stated: the proper person to be installed as a vācaka (reciter of śāstra/itihāsa) is one marked by virtue and self-restraint, and he should be formally encouraged through respect and material support.