Shloka 9
युधिष्ठिरकृष्णसंवादः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Appeal and Kṛṣṇa’s Assurance
Droṇa-parva, Adhyāya 59
आजहार महायज्ञं प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन् | निरर्गलं राजसूयमश्चमेधं च तं विभुः,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
ājāhāra mahāyajñaṃ prajā dharmeṇa pālayan | nirargalaṃ rājasūyam aśvamedhaṃ ca taṃ vibhuḥ |
Nārada said: While protecting his subjects in accordance with dharma, that mighty lord performed a great sacrifice. Unhindered, he duly carried out the Rājasūya and the Aśvamedha, thereby upholding righteous kingship through disciplined rule and sacred rites meant to secure the welfare of all beings.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Righteous rule (prajā-pālana) is inseparable from dharma: a king’s legitimacy is shown not merely by power but by protecting subjects ethically and supporting sacred obligations that aim at public welfare.
Nārada describes an ideal ruler performing major royal sacrifices—Rājasūya and Aśvamedha—without obstruction, while simultaneously governing the people according to dharma, presenting a model of sovereign authority grounded in moral duty.