Shloka 16
तुतोष च यथावच्च पूजां प्राप्प युधिष्ठिरात् । सोडर्चित: पाण्डवै: सर्वैर्महर्षिवेदपारग: । धर्मकामार्थसंयुक्तं पप्रच्छेदं युधिष्ठिरम्,राजा युधिष्ठिससे यथोचित पूजा पाकर नारदजी भी बहुत प्रसन्न हुए। इस प्रकार सम्पूर्ण पाण्डवोंसे पूजित होकर उन वेददवेत्ता महर्षिने युधिष्ठिससे धर्म, काम और अर्थ तीनोंके उपदेशपूर्वक ये बातें पूछीं
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: tutoṣa ca yathāvat ca pūjāṃ prāpya yudhiṣṭhirāt | so 'rcitaḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ sarvair maharṣir veda-pāragaḥ | dharma-kāmārtha-saṃyuktaṃ papraccha idaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having received due and proper honor from Yudhiṣṭhira, the great sage—fully versed in the Vedas—was delighted. Revered by all the Pāṇḍavas, he then questioned Yudhiṣṭhira on matters that unite dharma (righteous duty), kāma (legitimate desire), and artha (practical welfare), setting the stage for counsel that balances ethics with worldly responsibility.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Proper honor to the wise is itself a dharmic act, and true counsel for a ruler must integrate dharma (ethical duty), artha (effective governance and welfare), and kāma (regulated human desire) rather than treating them as isolated goals.
After Yudhiṣṭhira and the Pāṇḍavas receive and honor the great sage according to custom, the pleased sage begins a structured inquiry of Yudhiṣṭhira, introducing a discussion meant to guide him in balanced royal conduct.