Shloka 9
Nārada’s Darśana of Viśvarūpa Nārāyaṇa and the Caturmūrti Doctrine (नारदस्य नारायणदर्शनं चतुर्मूर्तिविचारश्च)
उदारसत्त्वाभिजनो भूमौ राजा कृताज्जलि: । कुशल चाव्ययं चैव पृष्टवा वैयासकिं नृप: । किमागमनमित्येवं पर्यपृच्छत पार्थिव:
udārasattvābhijano bhūmau rājā kṛtāñjaliḥ | kuśalaṃ cāvyayaṃ caiva pṛṣṭvā vaiyāsakiṃ nṛpaḥ | kim āgamanam ity evaṃ paryapṛcchata pārthivaḥ ||
Disse Bhīṣma: O rei—nobre de espírito e de linhagem ilustre—sentou-se no chão com as mãos postas. Depois de perguntar a Vaiyāsaki (Śuka) por seu bem-estar e por estar livre de dano, o governante indagou com respeito: “Com que propósito vieste aqui?” A cena realça a humildade régia e o dever ético de honrar um hóspede espiritualmente eminente por meio de cortesia atenta e postura reverente.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should embody humility and dharmic etiquette: receive spiritually eminent guests with reverence (añjali), inquire about their welfare (kuśala) and safety (avyaya), and only then ask the purpose of their visit. Nobility is shown through conduct, not merely status.
A king, described as noble in character and lineage, sits on the ground with folded hands before Vaiyāsaki (Śuka). He first asks about Śuka’s well-being and freedom from harm, then respectfully asks why Śuka has come.