Shloka 12
Vṛddha-kanyā-carita and Balarāma’s Kurukṣetra Inquiry (वृद्धकन्या-चरितम् / कुरुक्षेत्रफल-प्रश्नः)
ऋषिसंसदि तं दृष्टवा सा नदी मुनिसत्तमम् | ततः प्रोवाच राजेन्द्र ददती पुत्रमस्य तम्,राजेन्द्र! ऋषियोंकी सभामें बैठे हुए मुनिश्रेष्ठ दधीचको देखकर उन्हें उनका वह पुत्र सौंपती हुई सरस्वती नदी इस प्रकार बोली--
ṛṣi-saṃsadi taṃ dṛṣṭvā sā nadī muni-sattamam | tataḥ provāca rājendra dadatī putram asya tam ||
ऋषिसंसदि तं दृष्ट्वा सा नदी मुनिसत्तमम् । ततः प्रोवाच राजेन्द्र ददती पुत्रमस्य तम् ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is upheld through rightful restoration and reverence: the act of returning a son to his father is performed in the presence of the ṛṣis’ assembly, highlighting accountability before the wise and the sanctity of proper guardianship.
Sarasvatī, personified as a river-goddess, sees the sage Dadhīca seated among the sages and, while handing over his son to him, begins to speak—setting up the next lines of dialogue.