Shloka 56
Dambhodbhava, Nara-Nārāyaṇa, and the Counsel to Abandon Hubris
Udyoga-parva 94
सपुत्रे त्वयि वृत्तिं च वर्तते यां नराधिप । दाहितश्च निरस्तश्न त्वामेवोपाश्रित: पुन:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | saputre tvayi vṛttiṃ ca vartate yāṃ narādhipa | dāhitaś ca nirastaś ca tvām evopāśritaḥ punaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „O König, dir ist das Verhalten Ajātaśatrus Yudhiṣṭhiras—zusammen mit seinen Söhnen—das er dir gegenüber stets gezeigt hat, keineswegs unbekannt. Obwohl man ihn im Lackhaus verbrennen ließ und ihn dann aus Reich und Land vertrieb, kehrte er dennoch wieder zurück und suchte Zuflucht allein bei dir.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral weight of remembering righteousness and gratitude: even after severe wrongdoing (attempted burning and exile), Yudhiṣṭhira maintains dignified, conciliatory conduct and seeks lawful refuge rather than revenge—an implicit rebuke of unjust aggression and a call to ethical kingship.
In the Udyoga Parva’s lead-up to conflict, the speaker reminds the king that Yudhiṣṭhira’s behavior toward him has been consistently respectful and restrained, despite the Pandavas having suffered the lac-house plot and expulsion; yet they return again to the same royal authority seeking protection and settlement.