Adhyaya 140
The chapter proceeds as a question–answer dialogue. The sages ask about the human-incarnate son associated with Yama (Dharmarāja), and Sūta replies that he is Yudhiṣṭhira, born in Pāṇḍu’s lineage and renowned as foremost among kṣatriyas. It then highlights Yudhiṣṭhira’s exemplary royal ritual life: a Rājasūya performed with complete dakṣiṇā (sacrificial gifts) and five fully accomplished Aśvamedhas, portraying him as a model of dharmic kingship and sacrificial completeness. The teaching then turns to a maxim on merit: though many sons may be desired, even one son who goes to Gayā, performs an Aśvamedha, or releases a blue bull (nīla-vṛṣa) is enough for a father to feel his duty fulfilled. Sūta concludes by presenting this account as dharma-enhancing (dharma-vṛddhi-kara) instruction for the learned, joining royal exempla with pilgrimage ethics and a comparative valuation of rites.
Shlokas
Verse 1
ऋषय ऊचुः । यदेतद्भवता प्रोक्तं पुत्रो मानुषविग्रहः । भविष्यति यमस्यात्र कः संभूतः स सूतज
The sages said: “What you have declared—that here Yama will have a son in human form—who is that one who was born as his son, O son of Sūta?”
Verse 2
सूत उवाच । तस्य पुत्रः समुत्पन्नः पांडोः क्षेत्रे महीतले । युधिष्ठिर इति ख्यातः सर्वक्षत्रियपुंगवः
Sūta said: “His son was born upon the earth, in the lineage-field of Pāṇḍu; he became renowned as Yudhiṣṭhira, the foremost of all kṣatriyas.”
Verse 3
राजसूयो मखो येन इष्टः सम्पूर्णदक्षिणः । सर्वान्भूमिपतीन्वीर्यात्संविधाय करप्रदान्
By him the Rājasūya sacrifice was performed, complete with all dakṣiṇā-gifts; and by his valor he set all the kings of the earth in due order, making them render tribute.
Verse 4
अश्वमेधाः कृताः पंच तथा सम्पूर्णदक्षिणाः । भ्रामयित्वा हयं भूमौ पश्चात्प्राप स सद्गतिम्
Five Aśvamedha sacrifices were performed, likewise complete with all gifts; having caused the sacrificial horse to roam across the earth, he afterward attained the true and noble state.
Verse 5
एष्टव्या बहवः पुत्रा यद्येकोपि गयां व्रजेत् । यजेत वाऽश्वमेधेन नीलं वा वृषमुत्सृजेत्
Many sons should be desired—if even one of them should go to Gayā; or if he should perform an Aśvamedha; or if he should release a blue bull as a sacred gift.
Verse 6
यदनेन वृतं मत्तः पुत्रित्वं सुमहात्मना । हयमेधान्महायज्ञान्कर्ता स्यादस्य वै सुतः
Because this great-souled one chose sonship from me, his son would indeed become a performer of Aśvamedhas and other great sacrifices.
Verse 7
मन्येत कृतकृत्यत्वं येन पुत्रेण धर्मपः । अन्यैः पुत्रशतैः किं वा वंशानुद्धारकारकैः
Through such a son, the Lord of Dharma would deem all that must be done to be accomplished; what need then of hundreds of other sons, even if they could rescue and carry on the lineage?
Verse 8
सूत उवाच । एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं धर्मराजसुतोद्भवम् । आख्यानं ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठा धर्मवृद्धिकरं परम्
Sūta said: “Thus I have told you all about the birth of Dharmarāja’s son. O best of brāhmaṇas, this supreme narrative is a cause for the increase of dharma.”
Verse 140
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे श्रीहाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये धर्मराजपुत्राख्यानवर्णनंनाम चत्वारिंशदुत्तर शततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the holy Skanda Mahāpurāṇa—within the compendium of eighty-one thousand verses—ends the one-hundred-and-fortieth chapter of the sixth book, the Nāgara Khaṇḍa, in the Śrīhāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya, entitled “The narration of the account of Dharmarāja’s son.”