Shloka 20
Sabhā-praveśa, Dāna, and the Courtly Convergence (सभा-प्रवेशः दानं च)
कथयन्तः कथा: पुण्या धर्मज्ञा: शुचयो5मला: । तथैव क्षत्रियश्रेष्ठा धर्मराजमुपासते,वे धर्मज्ञ, पवित्रात्मा और निर्मल महर्षि राजा युधिष्ठिरको पवित्र कथाएँ सुनाया करते थे। इसी प्रकार क्षत्रियोंमें श्रेष्ठ नरेश भी वहाँ धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरकी उपासना करते थे
kathayantaḥ kathāḥ puṇyā dharmajñāḥ śucayo 'malāḥ | tathaiva kṣatriyaśreṣṭhā dharmarājam upāsate ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The sages—pure, stainless, and well-versed in dharma—would recount sacred and uplifting narratives to King Yudhiṣṭhira. In the same way, the foremost among kṣatriya rulers also remained in attendance upon Dharmarāja, honoring him through respectful service and allegiance.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is sustained through association with the pure and the wise: sacred discourse (puṇyāḥ kathāḥ) and reverent service (upāsanā) toward a righteous ruler are presented as ethical supports for both spiritual purity and stable kingship.
In Yudhiṣṭhira’s assembly, dharma-knowing, spotless sages narrate purifying stories to him, while eminent kṣatriya rulers likewise remain respectfully devoted to him—showing his court as a center of moral authority and honored leadership.