Shloka 12
मარკण्डेयागमनम् तथा सत्यव्रत-उपदेशः
Arrival of Mārkaṇḍeya and Counsel on Truth-Vows
चरन् नै:श्रेयसं धर्म प्रजापालनकारितम् | नाध्यगच्छद् बलिलेके तीर्थमन्यत्र वै द्विजात्,“राजा बलिको प्रजापालनजनित कल्याणकारी धर्मका आचरण करनेके लिये ब्राह्मणका आश्रय लेनेके सिवा दूसरा कोई उपाय नहीं जान पड़ा था
caran naiḥśreyasaṃ dharmaṃ prajā-pālana-kāritam | nādhyagacchad balileke tīrtham anyatra vai dvijāt |
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Enquanto se empenhava em praticar aquele dharma que conduz ao bem supremo e se manifesta na proteção e no amparo dos súditos, o rei Bali não encontrou outro refúgio—nenhum outro lugar sagrado—senão o conselho e a tutela de um duas-vezes-nascido.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the pursuit of niḥśreyasa (the highest good) through righteous governance—especially the protection and welfare of subjects—requires guidance grounded in Brahmanical learning and discipline; a king should seek counsel from the wise rather than rely solely on power or expediency.
Vaiśampāyana describes King Bali’s effort to practice a welfare-producing, kingly dharma. In doing so, Bali recognizes that he has no better ‘tīrtha’ (refuge/resource) than turning to a dvija (Brahmin) for direction and support.