Shloka 5
Book 12, Chapter 93 — Vāmadeva’s Counsel to King Vasumanā on Dharmic Kingship (धर्मप्रधान-राजधर्मोपदेशः)
तमब्रवीद् वामदेवस्तेजस्वी तपतां वर: । हेमवर्ण सुखासीनं ययातिमिव नाहुषम्,तब तपस्वी पुरुषोंमें श्रेष्ठ तेजस्वी महर्षि वामदेवने नहुषपुत्र ययातिके समान सुखपूर्वक बैठे हुए सुवर्णकी-सी कान्तिवाले राजा वसुमनासे कहा
tam abravīd vāmadevas tejasvī tapatāṁ varaḥ | hemavarṇaṁ sukhāsīnaṁ yayātim iva nāhuṣam |
Wika ni Bhishma: Pagkaraan, ang maningning na rishi na si Vāmadeva, ang pinakadakila sa mga ascetic, ay nagsalita sa haring Vasumanas—na nakaupo nang panatag, kumikislap na tila ginto, at kahawig ni Yayāti na anak ni Nahuṣa.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up a classic Mahābhārata ethical frame: ascetic wisdom (tapas, tejas) is positioned as the guiding authority for royal power and comfort. A king’s splendor and ease are implicitly to be aligned with dharma through the counsel of a sage.
Bhīṣma narrates that the sage Vāmadeva approaches and begins speaking to King Vasumanas, who is described as golden-hued and seated comfortably, likened to the famed king Yayāti (son of Nahuṣa). This introduces a forthcoming instruction or dialogue.