Marutta Seeks a Priest: Bṛhaspati’s Refusal and Nārada’s Guidance to Saṃvarta
Chapter 6
राजर्ष नातिहृष्टोड्सि कच्चित् क्षेमं तवानघ । क्व गतो5सि कुतश्वैदमप्रीतिस्थानमागतम्,*राजर्षे! तुम अधिक प्रसन्न नहीं दिखायी देते हो। निष्पाप नरेश! तुम्हारे यहाँ कुशल तो है न? कहाँ गये थे और किस कारण तुम्हें यह खेदका अवसर प्राप्त हुआ है?
rājarṣir nātihṛṣṭo ’si kaccit kṣemaṃ tavānagha | kva gato ’si kutaś caivam aprītisthānam āgatam ||
राजर्षे नातिहृष्टोऽसि कच्चित् क्षेमं तवानघ । क्व गतोऽसि कुतश्चैदमप्रीतिस्थानमागतम् ॥
व्यास उवाच
A dharmic guide first inquires into a ruler’s welfare and the cause of inner disturbance; ethical counsel begins with attentive concern, not accusation.
Vyāsa addresses a king-like figure (called a rājarṣi), noticing his lack of cheer, and asks whether all is well and what event or journey has led to his present sorrow.