Shloka 18
Āpava
Vasiṣṭha) and the Vasus: the Kāmadhenu Theft and the Curse (Śaṃtanu–Gaṅgā Saṃvāda
धर्म्य मार्ग यतमानो यशस्यं कुर्यान्नपो धर्ममवेक्षमाण: । न मद्विधो धर्मबुद्धि: प्रजानन् कुयदिवं कृपणं मां यथा55तथ,धर्मपर दृष्टि रखनेवाले राजाको उचित है कि वह प्रयत्नपूर्वक धर्म और यशके मार्गपर ही चले। जिसकी बुद्धि धर्ममें लगी हो उस मेरे-जैसे मनुष्यको जान-बूझकर ऐसा दीनतापूर्ण कार्य नहीं करना चाहिये, जिसके लिये आप मुझसे कह रहे हैं
pratardana uvāca | dharmyaṃ mārgaṃ yatamāno yaśasyaṃ kuryān nṛpo dharmam avekṣamāṇaḥ | na madvidho dharmabuddhiḥ prajānann kuryād idaṃ kṛpaṇaṃ māṃ yathā tathā ||
Wika ni Pratardana: “Ang haring nakatuon ang tingin sa dharma ay dapat magsikap na kumilos lamang sa matuwid na landas na nagdudulot din ng pangmatagalang dangal. Ang tulad ko, na ang pag-unawa’y nakaugat sa dharma, ay hindi dapat sadyang gumawa ng hamak at nakapapahiya sa sarili—gaya ng ipinipilit mong gawin ko.”
प्रतर्दन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler (and any dharma-minded person) should choose actions that align with dharma and honorable reputation, refusing proposals that require knowingly doing something base or self-degrading.
Pratardana responds to someone’s urging by rejecting the suggested course as ‘kṛpaṇa’ (mean/wretched), asserting that a king attentive to dharma must strive on the righteous and honorable path instead.