Shloka 54
Adhyaya 69 — The King’s Neglect of His Wife and the Restoration of Dharma
आलोच्याज्ञापयेत्युक्ते ततो ज्ञातं मयापि तत् ।
ततो न दत्तवानर्घमहं तुभ्यं विधानतः ॥
ālocyājñāpayety ukte tato jñātaṃ mayāpi tat | tato na dattavān argham ahaṃ tubhyaṃ vidhānataḥ ||
“विचार्य आज्ञापय” इति यदा उक्तं, तदपि मे ज्ञातमेव। तस्मात् यथाविधि तेऽर्घ्यं न दत्तम्॥
FAQs
Honor (arghya) is not merely social courtesy; it is dharmically conditioned. The sage implies that ethical standing affects ritual exchange—hospitality is sacred, but it is also governed by discernment and rule.
Dharma instruction within Manvantara narration: it uses a king–sage exchange to teach how adharmic acts can disrupt ritual entitlement and reciprocity.
Arghya symbolizes the offering of one’s reverence and subtle ‘merit-flow’ to another. Withholding it ‘according to rule’ suggests that spiritual economy follows lawfulness (ṛta/dharma), not mere sentiment.