Shloka 19

आपद्-राजनीतिः (Āpad-rājanīti) — Policy Options in Multi-Front Crisis

Devanagari script

एतच्छुत्वा ततो राजन्‌ स राजा सावरोधन: । संस्पृश्य पादौ शिरसा निपपात द्विजर्षभम्‌,राजन! ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ उस ऋषिकी वह बात सुनकर राजा अपनी रानीके साथ उनके चरणोंका मस्तकसे स्पर्श करके वहीं गिर पड़े

Transliteration

etac chrutvā tato rājan sa rājā sāvarodhanaḥ | saṃspṛśya pādau śirasā nipapāta dvijarṣabham ||

Translation

அரசே! இதைக் கேட்ட சாவரோధனன் என்ற அரசன், தன் அரசியுடன் சேர்ந்து அந்தப் பிராமணச் சிறந்தவரின் பாதங்களைத் தலையால் தொட்டு, அங்கேயே வணங்கி வீழ்ந்தான்।

Word by Word

एतत्this (statement/thing)

श्रुत्वाhaving heard

ततःthen/thereupon

राजन्O king

सःhe

राजाthe king

स-अवरोधनःtogether with his inner-apartment/queen(s) (i.e., with his consort)

संस्पृश्यhaving touched

पादौthe two feet

शिरसाwith (his) head

निपपातfell down/prostrated himself

द्विजर्षभम्the best of the twice-born (excellent Brahmin)

Speaker

कृश उवाच

Characters & Entities

Kṛśa (speaker)

Sāvarodhana (king)

the queen (rājñī / sāvarodhanī, implied by 'with his queen')

dvijarṣabha (a Brahmin sage, honorific)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights humility and submission to dharma: even a king, with worldly power, honors spiritual excellence by bowing at the feet of a foremost Brahmin, signaling that righteous authority and wisdom deserve reverence.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing the sage’s words, King Sāvarodhana, accompanied by his queen, performs a gesture of deep respect—touching the sage’s feet with his head and prostrating—indicating acceptance of the instruction and devotion to the Brahmin’s counsel.