Shloka 5
Book 12, Chapter 93 — Vāmadeva’s Counsel to King Vasumanā on Dharmic Kingship (धर्मप्रधान-राजधर्मोपदेशः)
तमब्रवीद् वामदेवस्तेजस्वी तपतां वर: । हेमवर्ण सुखासीनं ययातिमिव नाहुषम्
tam abravīd vāmadevas tejasvī tapatāṁ varaḥ | hemavarṇaṁ sukhāsīnaṁ yayātim iva nāhuṣam |
तमब्रवीद्वामदेवस्तेजस्वी तपतां वरः। हेमवर्णं सुखासीनं ययातिमिव नाहुषम्॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up a classic Mahābhārata ethical frame: ascetic wisdom (tapas, tejas) is positioned as the guiding authority for royal power and comfort. A king’s splendor and ease are implicitly to be aligned with dharma through the counsel of a sage.
Bhīṣma narrates that the sage Vāmadeva approaches and begins speaking to King Vasumanas, who is described as golden-hued and seated comfortably, likened to the famed king Yayāti (son of Nahuṣa). This introduces a forthcoming instruction or dialogue.