Shloka 17
वसिष्ठ-प्रशंसा
Vasiṣṭha as Purohita: Ascetic Mastery and Royal Counsel
परिपृच्छत्य स मां पूर्व परिक्लेशं पुरस्य च । अब्रवीद् ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठो विश्वास्य प्रहसन्निव,“देखकर जन श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणदेवताने पहले मुझसे सम्पूर्ण नगरके कष्टका कारण पूछा। इसके बाद अपनी अलौकिक शक्तिका विश्वास दिलाकर हँसते हुए-से कहा--
paripṛcchaty sa māṃ pūrvaṃ parikleśaṃ purasya ca | abravīd brāhmaṇaśreṣṭho viśvāsya prahasann iva ||
เขาถามข้าก่อนถึงความทุกข์ยากของนครและเหตุแห่งความเดือดร้อนนั้น แล้วพราหมณ์ผู้ประเสริฐก็ทำให้ข้าเชื่อมั่นในฤทธิ์อันอัศจรรย์ของตน ก่อนจะกล่าวราวกับยิ้มอยู่
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A responsible, wise figure begins by investigating the causes of collective suffering and then establishes trust through composure and credibility before offering guidance—suggesting that ethical leadership requires diagnosis, reassurance, and measured speech.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that a distinguished brāhmaṇa first questioned him about the city’s affliction; afterward, having inspired confidence in his extraordinary capability, the brāhmaṇa spoke with a calm, almost smiling demeanor, signaling that he is about to address the crisis.