Shloka 22
Śibi’s Weighing of Dharma
The Hawk and the Dove Trial) — शिबेर्धर्मतुला (श्येन-कपोतोक्तिः
तां देवसमितिं तस्य वासवश्न विशाम्पते । अभ्यागच्छन्नपवरं ज्ञातुमग्निश्च भारत,महाराज भरतनन्दन! नृपश्रेष्ठ उशीनरके महत्त्वको समझनेके लिये किसी समय इन्द्र और अग्नि उनकी राजसभामें गये
tāṃ devasamitīṃ tasya vāsavaś ca viśāṃpate | abhyāgacchann apavaraṃ jñātum agniś ca bhārata ||
Wahai tuan bagi sekalian rakyat, untuk mengetahui ukuran sebenar kebesaran Raja Uśīnara, Vāsava (Indra) dan Agni pernah mendatangi balairung dirajanya yang laksana perhimpunan para dewa, dengan hasrat menilai setinggi mana dharma dan kemurahan hati baginda.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
True royal greatness is measured by dharma—especially generosity, integrity, and steadiness under examination—so much so that even the gods may come to test and reveal it.
Indra and Agni arrive at the king’s court, apparently under a pretext, in order to assess and understand the extent of his excellence and virtue.