Shloka 153
युधिष्ठिरस्य राज्याभिषेकः | Yudhiṣṭhira’s Royal Consecration
धृतराष्ट्रश्न॒ राजर्षि: सर्वा: प्रकृतयस्तथा । तत्पश्चात् दशार्हवंशी श्रीकृष्णने उठकर जिसकी पूजा की गयी थी, वह पाञ्चजन्य शंख हाथमें ले उसके जलसे पृथ्वीपति कुन्तीपुत्र युधिष्ठिरका अभिषेक किया। फिर राजा धृतराष्ट्र तथा प्रकृतिवर्गके अन्य सब लोगोंने भी अभिषेकका कार्य सम्पन्न किया
vaiśampāyana uvāca | dhṛtarāṣṭraś ca rājarṣiḥ sarvāḥ prakṛtayas tathā | tatpaścāt daśārhavaṃśī śrīkṛṣṇas samutthāya yasya pūjā kṛtābhavat sa pāñcajanyaśaṅkhaṃ haste gṛhītvā jalena pṛthivīpatiṃ kuntīputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram abhiṣiñcat | tataḥ rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ prakṛtivargasya cānye sarve 'pi abhiṣekakriyāṃ samāpayan |
Vaiśampāyana said: Then King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the royal sage, together with all the ministers and leading citizens, acted in due order. After this, Śrī Kṛṣṇa of the Daśārha line—who had been duly honoured—rose, took the Pāñcajanya conch in his hand, and with consecrating water anointed Yudhiṣṭhira, Kuntī’s son, as lord of the earth. Thereafter King Dhṛtarāṣṭra and all the other members of the political and civic body also completed the rites of coronation.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate rule is not merely seized by power; it is established through dharma—public consent, proper rites, and the participation of elders and the state’s constituents. Even after conflict, ethical governance requires reconciliation and orderly restoration.
After the war, Kṛṣṇa—having been honored—stands and performs Yudhiṣṭhira’s coronation using consecrating water and the Pāñcajanya conch. Dhṛtarāṣṭra and the assembled ministers/citizens then complete the remaining coronation rites, formally installing Yudhiṣṭhira as king.