Shloka 30
Adhyāya 3: Indra’s Invitation and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Refusal to Abandon the Dog
Svargārohaṇa Test
'प्रभो! युधिष्ठिर! पृथ्वीपर रहते हुए तुमने आकाशमें नक्षत्र और ताराओंके रूपमें जितने तेज देखे हैं, वे इन देवताओंके सहस्रों लोक हैं; इनकी ओर देखो” ।। नारदस्य वच: श्रुत्वा राजा वचनमब्रवीत् | देवानामन्त्रय धर्मात्मा स्वपक्षांश्चैव पार्थिवान्,नारदजीकी बात सुनकर धर्मात्मा राजा युधिष्ठिरने देवताओं तथा अपने पक्षके राजाओंकी अनुमति लेकर कहा--
prabho yudhiṣṭhira pṛthvīpara rahate hue tumane ākāśe nakṣatra-tārā-rūpeṇa yāvat tejaḥ dṛṣṭam, te sarve devatānāṃ sahasraśo lokāḥ; etān paśya. nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā rājā vacanam abravīt; devānām anujñām ādāya dharmātmā, svapakṣāṃś caiva pārthivān.
“O lord Yudhiṣṭhira! While you lived upon the earth, the splendors you saw in the sky as stars and constellations—those are the thousands of worlds belonging to these gods. Look toward them.” Hearing Nārada’s words, the righteous king spoke, having first obtained the assent of the gods and also of the kings who were on his side.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links visible cosmic order (stars and constellations) with moral-spiritual order (divine realms), suggesting that righteous life and divine governance are reflected in the cosmos; it also highlights dharmic leadership—Yudhiṣṭhira acts only after seeking consent from gods and allies.
During the great departure (mahāprasthāna), Nārada points out that the celestial lights are the many worlds of the gods and urges Yudhiṣṭhira to behold them; Yudhiṣṭhira then prepares to respond/speak, first obtaining the approval of the gods and his allied kings.