Shloka 43
Adhyāya 33 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Post-Conflict Remorse and Inquiry on Āśrama Discipline (शोक-विमर्शः, आश्रम-जिज्ञासा)
तेषां पुराणि राष्ट्राणि गत्वा राजन् सुहृद्वृत: । भ्रातन् पुत्रांश्व पौत्रांश्व स्वे सवे राज्येडभिषेचय
teṣāṃ purāṇi rāṣṭrāṇi gatvā rājan suhṛd-vṛtaḥ | bhrātṝn putrāṃś ca pautrāṃś ca sve sve rājye ’bhiṣecaya, rājan ||
Vyāsa said: “O King, go to the ancient realms of those (fallen rulers), accompanied by your well-wishers. There, anoint their brothers, sons, or grandsons in their respective kingdoms.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate rule should be restored through orderly succession: after upheaval, a righteous king must re-establish governance by consecrating suitable heirs (brothers/sons/grandsons) in their own realms, guided by well-wishers, to stabilize society and uphold dharma.
Vyāsa instructs the addressed king to travel to the old kingdoms of those affected and, with trusted allies, install the appropriate family successors by formal consecration, thereby reconstituting political order and preventing further disorder.