Shloka 13
Ādi-parva 109: Pāṇḍu’s Forest Hunt and Kiṃdama’s Curse (पाण्डोर्मृगयावृत्तान्तः—किंदमशापः)
भीष्मेण धर्मतो राजन् सर्वतः परिरक्षिते | बभूव रमणीयश्व चैत्ययूपशताड्कित:,जनमेजय! भीष्मजीके द्वारा सब ओससे धर्मपूर्वक सुरक्षित भूमण्डलमें वह कुरुदेश सैकड़ों देवस्थानों और यज्ञस्तम्भोंसे चिह्नित होनेके कारण बड़ी शोभा पाता था
vaiśampāyana uvāca | bhīṣmeṇa dharmato rājan sarvataḥ parirakṣite | babhūva ramaṇīyaś caityayūpaśatāṅkitaḥ, janamejaya |
Vaiśampāyana said: O King Janamejaya, when Bhīṣma protected the realm on every side in accordance with dharma, the land of the Kurus became truly delightful—distinguished everywhere by hundreds of sacred shrines and sacrificial posts.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links political stability and beauty of the land to dharmic leadership: when a ruler (here, Bhīṣma as protector) safeguards the realm according to dharma, society flourishes and religious life—symbolized by shrines and sacrificial posts—becomes prominent.
Vaiśampāyana describes to King Janamejaya how, under Bhīṣma’s all-around protection grounded in dharma, the Kuru country appeared prosperous and attractive, visibly marked by many sacred sites and yūpas associated with ritual activity.