Shloka 326
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
पादयोर्न्यपतद् राजा स्वस्ति मे$स्त्विति चाब्रवीत् । राजा दम्भोद्धव सींकोंसे भरे हुए समूचे आकाशको श्वेतवर्ण हुआ देखकर मुनिके चरणोंमें गिर पड़े और बोले--“भगवन्! मेरा कल्याण हो'
pādayor nyapatad rājā svasti me 'stv iti cābravīt |
सींकशरैः पूर्णमिव समस्तं गगनं श्वेतवर्णं विलोक्य राजा दम्भोद्धवो मुनिचरणयोर्न्यपतत्, स्वस्ति मेऽस्त्विति चाब्रवीत्— “भगवन्, मम कल्याणं भवतु” इति ॥
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that auspiciousness (svasti) is sought through humility and reverence: even a king, symbol of worldly power, turns to a sage and submits at his feet, implying that dharma and spiritual guidance outrank pride and mere authority.
A king approaches a sage, falls at his feet in a formal act of obeisance, and asks for his welfare—expressed as a blessing request: “May there be well-being for me.”