Shloka 56
Āśvamedhika-parva, Adhyāya 14
Consolation of Yudhiṣṭhira; Rites and Gifts; Return to Hastināpura
अन्वशासच्च धर्मात्मा पृथिवीं सागराम्बराम् । तदनन्तर राजा युधिष्ठिरने देवताओं और ब्राह्मणोंका पूजन किया और मरे हुए बन्धु- बान्धवोंका श्राद्ध करके वे धर्मात्मा नरेश समुद्रपर्यन्त पृथ्वीका शासन करने लगे
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: anvāśāsac ca dharmātmā pṛthivīṃ sāgarāmbarām | tad-anantaraṃ rājā yudhiṣṭhirena devatā-brāhmaṇānāṃ pūjanaṃ kṛtam, mṛtānāṃ bandhu-bāndhavānāṃ śrāddhaṃ ca kṛtvā sa dharmātmā nareśaḥ samudra-paryantāṃ pṛthivīṃ śāsituṃ pracakrame |
Vaiśampāyana dijo: Entonces aquel rey de alma justa gobernó la tierra, ceñida por el océano. Después, el rey Yudhiṣṭhira rindió culto a los dioses y honró a los brāhmanas; y, tras ofrecer debidamente los ritos de śrāddha por sus parientes y deudos fallecidos, ese soberano conforme al dharma comenzó a administrar el reino que se extendía hasta los mares, restaurando el orden mediante reverencia, gratitud y legítima realeza tras la devastación de la guerra.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights rajadharma: a king’s legitimacy and stability arise from dharmic governance joined with reverence for the sacred (deities and Brāhmaṇas) and responsibility toward the dead through śrāddha. Political order is shown as inseparable from ethical duty, gratitude, and ritual obligations.
After the war, Yudhiṣṭhira performs worship and honors Brāhmaṇas, then conducts śrāddha rites for deceased relatives. Having completed these duties, he begins ruling the ocean-bounded earth, signaling the restoration of lawful kingship and social-religious order.