अजातशत्रुमासीनं भ्रातृभि: सहितं वने । आगम्य ब्राह्मणस्तूर्ण संतप्तश्वेदमब्रवीत्,वनमें भाइयोंके साथ बैठे हुए अजातशत्रु युधिष्ठिरके पास तुरंत आकर संतप्त हुए उस ब्राह्मणने इस प्रकार कहा--
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: ajātaśatrum āsīnaṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ sahitaṃ vane | āgamya brāhmaṇas tūrṇaṃ saṃtaptas śvedam abravīt ||
Vaiśampāyana said: In the forest, Ajātaśatru (Yudhiṣṭhira) was seated together with his brothers. A brāhmaṇa, arriving there in haste—distressed and sweating—addressed him with these words.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse frames an ethical situation: a distressed brāhmaṇa seeks out a righteous ruler. It highlights the dharmic expectation that a king (especially Yudhiṣṭhira) should be accessible to the afflicted and respond promptly with protection, justice, and compassion.
Yudhiṣṭhira sits in the forest with his brothers during exile. A brāhmaṇa arrives urgently, visibly distressed and sweating, and begins to speak—introducing a petition or problem that the Pāṇḍavas are expected to address.