Shloka 3
Kārtavīrya–Samudra Saṃvāda and the Jāmadagnya Precedent (आश्वमेधिक पर्व, अध्याय २९)
स कदाचित् समुद्रान्ते विचरन् बलदर्पित: । अवाकिरन् शरशतै: समुद्रमिति न: श्रुतम्
sa kadācit samudrānte vicaran baladarpitaḥ | avākiran śaraśataiḥ samudram iti naḥ śrutam |
Nghe kể rằng có lần, khi đi dọc bờ biển, ông say men kiêu hãnh vì sức mạnh của mình. Tại đó, ông trút xuống hàng trăm mũi tên như mưa, đến nỗi mặt biển cũng bị che phủ.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse cautions that mere strength is not virtue; when power is driven by pride (bala-darpa), it becomes a spectacle of domination. Ethical kingship requires restraint and humility, not impulsive displays that challenge nature or others.
A powerful king is described as walking along the seashore and, out of pride in his might, shooting such a dense volley of arrows that the ocean appears covered. The speaker presents it as a well-known report (iti naḥ śrutam).