Shloka 8
युधिष्ठिरकृष्णसंवादः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Appeal and Kṛṣṇa’s Assurance
Droṇa-parva, Adhyāya 59
व्याप्य कृत्स्नं जगत् कीर्त्या सुरर्षिगणसेवित: । स प्राप्य विधिवद् राज्यं सर्वभूतानुकम्पक:,देवर्षिगणोंसे सेवित श्रीरामने विधिपूर्वक राज्य पाकर अपनी कीर्तिसे सम्पूर्ण जगत्को व्याप्त कर दिया और समस्त प्राणियोंपर अनुग्रह करते हुए वे धर्मपूर्वक प्रजाका पालन करने लगे। भगवान् श्रीरामने निर्बाधरूपसे राजसूय और अश्वमेध-यज्ञका अनुष्ठान किया और देवराज इन्द्रको हविष्यसे तृप्त करके उन्हें अत्यन्त आनन्द प्रदान किया। राजा रामने नाना प्रकारके दूसरे-दूसरे यज्ञ भी किये थे, जो अनेक गुणोंसे सम्पन्न थे
vyāpya kṛtsnaṁ jagat kīrtyā surarṣigaṇasevitaḥ | sa prāpya vidhivad rājyaṁ sarvabhūtānukampakaḥ ||
Nārada said: Served and honored by hosts of gods and seers, he pervaded the entire world with his fame. Having duly obtained the kingship according to proper rites, compassionate toward all beings, he began to protect and govern his subjects in accordance with dharma.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate rule is grounded in vidhivat (rightful, rule-bound) accession and sustained by dharma: the king’s authority is validated by proper procedure and expressed through compassionate protection of all beings, not mere power.
Nārada describes an exemplary ruler whose fame spreads throughout the world; he attains kingship in the proper manner, is honored by gods and sages, and then governs by dharma with compassion toward all creatures.