Shloka 28
अध्याय ९५: चित्राङ्गदस्य गन्धर्वेण सह संग्रामः तथा विचित्रवीर्यस्य राज्याभिषेकः
Chitrāṅgada’s duel with the Gandharva and Vicitravīrya’s consecration
हस्त्यश्वरथसम्पूर्णा मनुष्यकलिला भृशम् । सुहोत्रे राजनि तदा धर्मत: शासति प्रजा:
hasty-aśva-ratha-sampūrṇā manuṣya-kalilā bhṛśam | suhotre rājani tadā dharmataḥ śāsati prajāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Zu jener Zeit, als König Suhotra gemäß dem Dharma herrschte, blühte das Volk in hohem Maße—reich an Elefanten, Pferden und Wagen, und das Land war dicht von Menschen erfüllt.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links a ruler’s dharmic governance (dharmataḥ śāsati) with public welfare: when the king rules righteously, the realm becomes secure, populous, and materially well-provisioned—an ethical ideal of kingship in the epic.
The narrator describes the condition of the kingdom during King Suhotra’s reign: the land is rich in military and transport resources (elephants, horses, chariots) and is heavily populated, indicating stability and prosperity under his rule.