Shloka 15
Āśvamedhika-parva Adhyāya 1 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Lament by the Gaṅgā and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel
अभिषेचय राजानं धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम् । स पालयिष्यति वशी धर्मेण पृथिवीमिमाम्,“धर्मात्मा राजा युधिष्ठिरको अपने राज्यपर अभिषिक्त कीजिये। ये मन और इन्द्रियोंको वशमें रखनेवाले हैं, अतः धर्मपूर्वक इस पृथ्वीका पालन करेंगे
abhiṣecaya rājānaṃ dharmātmānaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | sa pālayiṣyati vaśī dharmeṇa pṛthivīm imām ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Consecrate King Yudhiṣṭhira, whose very nature is dharma. Self-controlled and master of his senses, he will govern this earth in accordance with righteousness.”
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate rule is grounded in dharma and self-mastery: a king fit to govern is one whose character is righteous (dharmātmā) and who restrains mind and senses (vaśī), thereby protecting the earth through ethical governance (dharmeṇa).
The narrator Vaiśaṃpāyana urges that Yudhiṣṭhira be formally consecrated as king, affirming that his righteous nature and self-control qualify him to rule and protect the realm in accordance with dharma.