Shloka 6
Adhyāya 223: Nāradasya Guṇa-kathana
Catalogue of Nārada’s Virtues
स एव हाुस्तमयते स सम विद्योतते दिश:
sa eva hāstamayate sa samaṁ vidyotate diśaḥ | sa eva yathāsamayaṁ ālasyaṁ chittvā samantād diśaḥ prakāśayati, sa evāstam eti sa eva varṣati | brahman! taṁ baliṁ ahaṁ mṛgayamāṇo ’pi na paśyāmi | tvaṁ me rājānaṁ balikaṁ ācakṣva ||
स एव ह्यस्तमयते स समं विद्योतते दिशः। काले काले च वर्षत्येवं तं बलिं नाधिगच्छामि; ब्रह्मन्, आचक्ष्व मे बलिम्॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames righteous kingship as harmonizing with cosmic order: timely action, removal of laziness, and beneficent governance that ‘illumines the quarters’ and brings seasonal prosperity (symbolized by rain). It implies that a true ruler’s dharma is energetic, timely, and life-sustaining.
Bhishma describes an exemplary figure associated with regular, sun-like and rain-giving functions—suggesting an ideal sovereign whose conduct sustains the world. He then tells a Brahman that despite searching he cannot find that Bali, and asks the Brahman to identify or point out King Balika.