Shloka 122
Śoka-śamana: Kṛṣṇa’s Consolation and Nārada’s Exempla to Sṛñjaya
Chapter 29
'सूंजय! संकृतिके पुत्र राज रन्तिदेव भी कालके गालमें चले गये, यह हमारे सुननेमें आया है। उन महातपस्वी नरेशने इन्द्रकी अच्छी तरह आराधना करके उनसे यह वर माँगा कि “हमारे पास अन्न बहुत हो, हम सदा अतिथियोंकी सेवाका अवसर प्राप्त करें, हमारी श्रद्धा दूर न हो और हम किसीसे कुछ भी न माँगें' ।।
Sūñjaya! Saṅkṛtike putro rājā Rantidevo bhī Kālaka-gāleṃ cale gaye, iti asmākaṃ śravaṇam āgatam. Sa mahātapā nṛpo Indram suṣṭhu ārādhya tataḥ idaṃ varaṃ yayāce—“asmākaṃ sannidhau annaṃ bahu syāt, vayaṃ sadā atithi-sevāyāḥ avasaraṃ labhemahi, asmākaṃ śraddhā na dūre bhavet, vayaṃ ca kasyacit kiñcid api na yācema.” Upātiṣṭhanta paśavaḥ svayaṃ taṃ saṃśita-vratam; grāmyāraṇyā mahātmānaṃ Rantidevaṃ yaśasvinam.
Wika ni Vāyu: “O Sūñjaya, nabalitaan naming si Haring Rantideva, anak ni Saṅkṛti, ay napasa-ilalim din sa mga panga ni Kāla (Kamatayan). Ang dakilang haring asceta, matapos sambahin si Indra nang wasto, ay humiling ng ganitong biyaya: ‘Nawa’y maging sagana ang pagkain sa aming tahanan; nawa’y lagi kaming magkaroon ng pagkakataong maglingkod sa mga panauhin; nawa’y huwag humina ang aming pananampalataya; at nawa’y hindi kami mapilitang humingi ng anuman kaninuman.’ At naganap nga na ang mga hayop—maging alagang-bahay man o mailap—ay kusang lumalapit upang ialay sa sakripisyo sa harap ng tanyag na Rantideva, ang dakilang-loob na matatag sa mahihigpit na panata.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma through hospitality and selfless giving: a righteous ruler seeks not power but the capacity to feed others, serve guests continually, keep faith steady, and avoid dependence on begging—showing that ethical kingship is grounded in generosity, restraint, and devotion.
Vāyu recounts what is heard about King Rantideva’s life and passing: after worshipping Indra, Rantideva receives boons aligned with service and abundance; as a result, animals—domestic and wild—come of their own accord for sacrificial purposes, underscoring his fame and strict observance of vows.