Shloka 6
Āṇīmāṇḍavya–Upākhyāna
The Account of Āṇīmāṇḍavya and the Birth of Vidura
एतान्यासन् महासत्त्वे शान्तनौ पुरुषर्षभे । न चास्य सदृशः कश्रिद् धर्मतः पार्थिवो5भवत्,महान् शक्तिशाली पुरुषश्रेष्ठ शान्तनुमें ये सभी सदगुण विद्यमान थे। उनके समान धर्मपूर्वक शासन करनेवाला दूसरा कोई राजा नहीं था
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: etāny āsan mahāsattve śāntanau puruṣarṣabhe | na cāsya sadṛśaḥ kaścid dharmataḥ pārthivo 'bhavat ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: In Śāntanu—Stier unter den Menschen, ein großherziger König—waren diese edlen Eigenschaften gegenwärtig. Und unter den irdischen Herrschern gab es keinen, der ihm im Regieren nach Dharma gleichkam.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds dharma as the true measure of rulership: a king’s greatness is not merely power but ethical governance, such that no other ruler equals him in righteousness.
Vaiśampāyana is describing King Śāntanu’s character, emphasizing that he possessed outstanding virtues and that no other king matched him in ruling in accordance with dharma.