Shloka 20
Śāṃtanu’s Ideal Rule; Devavrata’s Return; The Satyavatī Marriage Condition and Bhīṣma’s Vow (आदि पर्व, अध्याय ९४)
एवंवृत्तो ह्वीनिषेवश्च॒ यस्मात् तस्माच्छिबिरत्यगाद् वै रथेन । राजा शिबि ऐसे सदाचारसम्पन्न और लज्जाशील हैं! (इनमें अभिमानकी मात्रा छू भी नहीं गयी है।) इसीलिये शिबि हम सबसे आगे बढ़ गये हैं। वैशम्पायन उवाच अथाष्टक: पुनरेवान्वपृच्छ- न्मातामहं कौतुकेनेन्द्रकल्पम्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! तदनन्तर अष्टकने कौतूहलवश इन्द्रके तुल्य अपने नाना राजा ययातिसे पुनः प्रश्न किया
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: evaṁvṛtto hrīnīṣevaś ca yasmāt tasmāc chibir atyagād vai rathena | athāṣṭakaḥ punar evānvapṛcchan mātāmahaṁ kautukenendra-kalpam ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Porque Śibi é de tal conduta—vive na modéstia e é naturalmente pudico—por isso avançou à frente de todos nós, montado em seu carro. Então Aṣṭaka, movido pela curiosidade, voltou a interrogar seu avô materno, o rei Yayāti, resplandecente como Indra.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights hrī (modesty/moral shame) and good conduct as royal virtues: Śibi’s lack of pride and disciplined propriety are presented as the ethical basis for his precedence and honour.
Vaiśampāyana explains why King Śibi moves ahead in a chariot—due to his exemplary modest conduct—then the scene shifts as Aṣṭaka, curious, resumes questioning his maternal grandfather King Yayāti, described as Indra-like.