Shloka 44
इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत सभापववके अन्तर्गत शिशुपालवधपर्वरमें भीष्मवाक्यविषयक चौवालीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,यथाहईं पूज्य नृपतीन् भ्रातृन् सर्वानुवाच ह । राजान: सर्व एवैते प्रीत्यास्मानू समुपागता: “हम अपने-अपने राष्ट्रको जायँगे, आप हमें आज्ञा दें।। राजाओंका यह वचन सुनकर धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने उन पूजनीय नरेशोंका यथायोग्य सत्कार करके सब भाइयोंसे कहा--*ये सभी राजा प्रेमसे ही हमारे यहाँ पधारे थे। ये परंतप भूपाल अब मुझसे पूछकर अपने राष्ट्रको जानेके लिये उद्यत हैं। तुमलोगोंका भला हो। तुमलोग अपने राज्यकी सीमातक आदरपूर्वक इन श्रेष्ठ नरपतियोंको पहुँचा आओ'
vaiśampāyana uvāca | yathāha—īṃ pūjya nṛpatīn bhrātṝn sarvān uvāca ha | rājānaḥ sarva evaite prītyāsmān samupāgatāḥ | “vayaṃ sva-sva-rāṣṭraṃ yāsyāmaḥ, bhavān asmān ājñāpayatu adya” iti | rājñāṃ etad vacanaṃ śrutvā dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ tān pūjanīyān nareśān yathāyogyaṃ satkṛtya sarva-bhrātṝn uvāca—“ete sarve rājānaḥ prītyaiva asmākam atra samāgatāḥ | ime parantapa bhūpālāḥ mām pṛṣṭvā sva-rāṣṭraṃ gantum udyatāḥ | bhadraṃ vaḥ | yūyaṃ sva-rājya-sīmāntam ādarapūrvakaṃ etān śreṣṭha-narapatīn prāpayata” iti |
Vaiśampāyana said: Then (Yudhiṣṭhira) addressed all his brothers regarding the honored kings. All those rulers, having come to them out of goodwill, said, “We shall each return to our own kingdoms; grant us leave today.” Hearing the kings’ request, Dharma-rāja Yudhiṣṭhira duly honored those venerable monarchs and said to his brothers: “These kings have come here solely out of affection. Those mighty rulers, after seeking my permission, are now ready to depart for their realms. May it be well with you. Escort these foremost kings respectfully up to the boundary of your kingdom.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights rāja-dharma expressed as hospitality and respectful leave-taking: honored guests—especially fellow rulers—should be received appropriately (satkāra) and escorted with dignity to the boundary, reflecting gratitude, political courtesy, and ethical governance.
After the gathering, the visiting kings request permission to return to their own realms. Yudhiṣṭhira honors them and instructs his brothers to escort the kings respectfully up to the limits of their kingdom.