Shloka 29
Ajagara-vrata (The ‘Python’ Discipline): Prahrāda Questions a Wandering Sage
ततः प्राह द्विजश्रेष्ठान विरूपाक्षो महाबल: । गृह्नीत रत्नान्येतानि यथोत्साहं यथेष्टत:,ततस्तमध्यगाद् राजन् राजधर्मा खगोत्तम: । स्वागतेनाभिनन्दंक्ष गौतम॑ मित्रवत्सल: राजन! तत्पश्चात् पक्षियोंमें श्रेष्ठ मित्रवत्सल राजधर्मा गौतमके पास आया और स्वागतपूर्वक उसका अभिनन्दन किया
tataḥ prāha dvijaśreṣṭhān virūpākṣo mahābalaḥ | gṛhṇīta ratnāny etāni yathotsāhaṃ yatheṣṭataḥ || tatas tam adhyagād rājan rājadharmā khagottamaḥ | svāgatenābhinandan gautamaṃ mitravatsalaḥ ||
پھر مہابلی وِروپاکش نے برگزیدہ دَویجوں سے کہا—“اپنی اپنی ہمت اور خواہش کے مطابق یہ جواہرات لے لو۔” اس کے بعد، اے راجن، پرندوں میں افضل اور دوست نواز راجدھرمہ گوتَم کے پاس آیا اور باقاعدہ آؤبھگت کے ساتھ اس کی پذیرائی کی۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights two complementary duties: (1) dāna—giving valuables to worthy recipients without coercion, allowing them to take according to need and capacity; and (2) atithi-satkāra—welcoming and honoring a guest with friendliness and proper reception. Both are presented as practical expressions of dharma.
Virūpākṣa, described as very powerful, tells eminent Brahmins to accept jewels as they wish. Then Rājadharmā, the foremost among birds and a loyal friend, comes to the sage Gautama and greets him respectfully, offering a warm welcome.