Shloka 22
Āśramadharma and the Marks of the Muni
Yayāti–Aṣṭaka Saṃvāda
कथं ज्येष्ठानतिक्रम्प कनीयान् राज्यमर्हति । एतत् सम्बोधयामस्त्वां धर्म त्वं प्रतिपालय,'ज्येष्ठ पुत्रोंका उल्लंघन करके छोटा पुत्र राज्यका अधिकारी कैसे हो सकता है? हम आपको इस बातका स्मरण दिला रहे हैं। आप धर्मका पालन कीजिये”
kathaṁ jyeṣṭhān atikramya kanīyān rājyam arhati | etat sambodhayāmas tvāṁ dharma tvaṁ pratipālaya ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Como pode o filho mais novo ter direito ao reino, passando por cima dos filhos mais velhos? É exatamente isso que te lembramos — sustenta o dharma e age conforme a ordem legítima.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses dharma in political order: legitimate rule should not be obtained by violating the rightful precedence of elders; one must uphold moral and customary law in matters of succession.
Vaiśampāyana reports an admonition directed at a decision about kingship: the speaker questions how a younger son could claim the kingdom by setting aside elder sons, and urges adherence to dharma.