Shloka 16
Rājapurohita-lakṣaṇa and Purūravas–Vāyu Saṃvāda
Varṇa, Sovereignty, and Abhaya-dāna
श्रेयो नयति राजान ब्रुवंश्चित्रां सरस्वतीम् । राजा चरति यद् धर्म ब्राह्मणेन निदर्शितम्
aila uvāca | śreyo nayati rājānaṁ bruvaṁś citrāṁ sarasvatīm | rājā carati yad dharmaṁ brāhmaṇena nidarśitam |
阿伊拉说道：“婆罗门以奇妙而有感召力的言辞，引导国王趋向真正有益之事。于是国王便实行那由婆罗门所指示并以身示范的同一法（dharma）。”
ऐल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that a king’s righteous conduct is shaped by learned Brahmin guidance: eloquent, insightful counsel leads the ruler toward śreyas (true welfare), and the king should enact the dharma thus indicated.
Aila is describing the ideal relationship between spiritual-intellectual authority and political power: the Brahmin articulates and exemplifies dharma through persuasive speech, and the king adopts that dharma in his governance and personal conduct.