Shloka 21
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
एवमेतद् भवेद् राजन् यदि राजा न बालिश: । अस्माकं दीर्घसूत्र: स्याद् भवान् धर्मपरायण:,“राजन! यदि ऐसा हो तो आप हमारे धर्मपरायण राजा अविवेकी और दीर्घसूत्री नहीं समझे जायूँगे
evam etad bhaved rājan yadi rājā na bāliśaḥ | asmākaṃ dīrghasūtraḥ syād bhavān dharmaparāyaṇaḥ ||
“Quả đúng là như vậy, tâu Đại vương—nếu nhà vua không phải kẻ ngu muội. Khi ấy, bệ hạ, người nương theo dharma, sẽ không bị chúng ta xem là kẻ chậm chạp hành động và quá đỗi trì hoãn.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s commitment to dharma must be joined with discernment and timely action. Righteous intent alone is not enough; foolishness or delay can undermine dharma in practice.
Vaiśampāyana reports a statement addressed to a king, asserting that if the king is not foolish, then he should not be regarded as procrastinating; the line functions as counsel about wise, prompt, dharma-aligned governance.