Shloka 25
वृतं सदस्यैर्बहुभिर्धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् । तत् सद:ः पार्थिव कीर्ण ब्राह्मणैश्व महर्षिभि | भ्राजते सम तदा राजन् नाकपृष्ठं यथामरै:,वहाँ विश्राम करनेके अनन्तर वे भूमिमपाल बहुत दक्षिणा देनेवाले एवं बहुतेरे सदस्योंसे घिरे हुए धर्मराज युधिष्ठिससे मिले। जनमेजय! उस समय राजाओं, ब्राह्मणों तथा महर्षियोंसे भरा हुआ वह यज्ञमण्डप देवताओंसे भरे-पूरे स्वर्गलोकके समान शोभा पा रहा था
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | vṛtaṃ sadasyair bahubhir dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | tat sadaḥ pārthiva kīrṇaṃ brāhmaṇaiś ca maharṣibhiḥ | bhrājate sma tadā rājan nākapṛṣṭhaṃ yathāmaraiḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Surrounded by many members of the assembly, the righteous king Yudhiṣṭhira was attended upon. That hall, crowded with kings and filled with brāhmaṇas and great seers, shone at that time, O King, like the very summit of heaven thronged with the gods—an image of royal order upheld by dharma and sanctified by spiritual authority.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical ideal of kingship: a ruler’s legitimacy and splendor are grounded in dharma and affirmed by the presence of brāhmaṇas and sages. A truly ‘heaven-like’ court is one where political power is tempered by moral law and spiritual counsel.
Vaiśampāyana describes the scene of Yudhiṣṭhira in the assembly, surrounded by many courtiers and with the hall filled by kings, brāhmaṇas, and great ṛṣis. The gathering is portrayed as radiant and orderly, comparable to heaven filled with gods.