Shloka 16
Vidura’s Return; Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Departure; Nārada’s Instruction on Kāla and Detachment
युधिष्ठिरो लब्धराज्यो दृष्ट्वा पौत्रं कुलन्धरम् । भ्रातृभिर्लोकपालाभैर्मुमुदे परया श्रिया ॥ १६ ॥
yudhiṣṭhiro labdha-rājyo dṛṣṭvā pautraṁ kulan-dharam bhrātṛbhir loka-pālābhair mumude parayā śriyā
Nachdem Yudhiṣṭhira sein Königreich zurückerlangt und die Geburt eines Enkels gesehen hatte, der die edle Familientradition forttragen konnte, regierte der Mahārāja in Frieden und genoss seltenen Wohlstand im Einvernehmen mit seinen jüngeren Brüdern, die wie Weltbeschützer kundige Verwalter des Volkes waren.
Both Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira and Arjuna were unhappy from the beginning of the Battle of Kurukṣetra, but even though they were unwilling to kill their own men in the fight, it had to be done as a matter of duty, for it was planned by the supreme will of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. After the battle, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was unhappy over such mass killings. Practically there was none to continue the Kuru dynasty after them, the Pāṇḍavas. The only remaining hope was the child in the womb of his daughter-in-law, Uttarā, and he was also attacked by Aśvatthāmā, but by the grace of the Lord the child was saved. So after the settlement of all disturbing conditions and reestablishment of the peaceful order of the state, and after seeing the surviving child, Parīkṣit, well satisfied, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira felt some relief as a human being, although he had very little attraction for material happiness, which is always illusory and temporary.
FAQs
In this verse, Parīkṣit Mahārāja is called kulandhara—“the sustainer of the dynasty”—because he would carry forward the Kuru line after the devastation of the war.
The verse says Yudhiṣṭhira’s brothers appeared like the guardians of the worlds, indicating their heroic strength, protective nature, and capacity to uphold order and dharma.
It highlights rejoicing in rightful duty—protecting society and sustaining one’s family line through responsible, dharma-centered leadership rather than personal ambition.