Shloka 7
Virāṭanagara-nivāsa-nirṇaya
Decision to Reside in Virāṭa’s City
ततो युधिष्छिरो राजा धर्मपुत्रो महामना: । संनिवर्त्यानुजान् सर्वानिति होवाच भारत
tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā dharmaputro mahāmanāḥ | saṃnivartyānujān sarvān iti hovāca bhārata ||
Then King Yudhiṣṭhira, the high-minded son of Dharma, having restrained all his younger brothers, spoke thus, O Bhārata. The verse highlights his ethical leadership: he governs not only by authority but by self-control and responsibility, preventing impulsive action and guiding his brothers toward a course aligned with dharma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethical leadership is shown through restraint and discernment: Yudhiṣṭhira, as Dharmaputra, checks the impulses of his brothers and speaks after establishing control, modeling governance rooted in dharma rather than anger or haste.
At the opening of the Virāṭa Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira intervenes to restrain all his younger brothers and then begins to address them, setting the stage for a considered plan and disciplined conduct during the events that follow.