Shloka 49
ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins
प्रतर्दनको आया जान भृगुजी आश्रमसे निकले। उन्होंने नृपश्रेष्ठ प्रतर्दनका विधिपूर्वक स्वागत-सत्कार किया ।।
pratardanako āyā jñātvā bhṛgujī āśramase nikale | teṣāṁ nṛpaśreṣṭha-pratardanasya vidhipūrvakaṁ svāgata-satkāraṁ cakruḥ || uvāca ca enaṁ rājendra kiṁ kāryaṁ brūhi pārthiva | sa covāca nṛpastasmai yadāgamanakāraṇam ||
Nang malaman ni Bhṛgu na dumating si Haring Pratardana, lumabas siya mula sa kaniyang ashram. Marapat niyang sinalubong at pinarangalan ang pinakamainam na haring iyon ayon sa ritwal. Pagkaraan ay sinabi ni Bhṛgu: “O panginoon ng mga hari, O tagapamahala ng daigdig, sabihin mo sa akin—anong layunin ang nagdala sa iyo rito?” At ipinaliwanag ng hari ang dahilan ng kaniyang pagparito.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights dharma in conduct: a sage receives a king with proper hospitality, and the king states his purpose respectfully—modeling mutual decorum between spiritual authority and temporal power.
King Pratardana arrives at Bhṛgu’s hermitage. Bhṛgu comes out, welcomes him with due honors, and asks the reason for the visit; the king then begins to explain his purpose.