Shloka 78
Adhyāya 31: Rājasūya-samāgama — The Gathering of Kings and the Ordering of Hospitality
(रत्नभारमुपादाय ययौ सह निशाचरै: । इन्द्रप्रस्थं विवेशाथ कम्पयन्निव मेदिनीम् ।। रत्नोंका वह भारी भार साथ लिये निशाचरोंके साथ सहदेवने इन्द्रप्रस्थ नगरमें प्रवेश किया। उस समय वे पैरोंकी धमकसे सारी पृथ्वीको कम्पित करते हुए-से चल रहे थे। दृष्टवा युधिष्ठिरं राजन् सहदेव: कृताञ्जलि: । प्रह्मोडभिवाद्य तस्थौ स पूजितश्वैव तेन वै ।। राजन! युधिष्ठिरको देखते ही सहदेव हाथ जोड़ नम्रतापूर्वक उनके चरणोंमें पड़ गये। फिर विनीतभावसे उनके समीप खड़े हो गये। उस समय युधिष्ठिरने भी उनका बहुत सम्मान किया। लड़्काप्राप्तान् धनौघांश्व दृष्टवा तान् दुर्लभान् बहून् । प्रीतिमानभवद् राजा विस्मयं च ययौ तदा ।। लंकासे प्राप्त हुई अत्यन्त दुर्लभ एवं प्रचुर धनराशियोंको देखकर राजा युधिष्ठिर बड़े प्रसन्न और विस्मित हुए। कोटीसहस्रमधिकं हिरण्यस्य महात्मने । विचित्रांस्तु मणींश्वैव गोडजाविमहिषांस्तथा ।।) धर्मराजाय तत् सर्व निवेद्य भरतर्षभ । कृतकर्मा सुखं राजन्नुवास जनमेजय,भरतश्रेष्ठ जनमेजय! उस धनराशिमें सहस्र कोटिसे भी अधिक सुवर्ण था। विचित्र मणि एवं रत्न थे। गाय, भैंस, भेड़ और बकरियोंकी संख्या भी अधिक थी। राजन! इन सबको महात्मा धर्मराजकी सेवामें समर्पित करके कृतकृत्य हो सहदेव सुखपूर्वक राजधानीमें रहने लगे
ratnabhāram upādāya yayau saha niśācaraiḥ | indraprasthaṃ viveśātha kampayann iva medinīm || dṛṣṭvā yudhiṣṭhiraṃ rājan sahadevaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ | prahṛṣṭo ’bhivādya tasthau sa pūjitaś caiva tena vai || labdhaprāptān dhanaughāṃś ca dṛṣṭvā tān durlabhān bahūn | prītimān abhavad rājā vismayaṃ ca yayau tadā || koṭisahasram adhikaṃ hiraṇyasya mahātmane | vicitrāṃs tu maṇīṃś caiva go-ajāvimahiṣāṃs tathā || dharmarājāya tat sarvaṃ nivedya bharatarṣabha | kṛtakarmā sukhaṃ rājann uvāsa janamejaya ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Bearing a load of jewels, Sahadeva set out with the night-roving attendants and entered Indraprastha, as though making the very earth tremble. Seeing King Yudhiṣṭhira, Sahadeva, with hands joined in reverence, joyfully bowed and stood humbly nearby; and Yudhiṣṭhira in turn honored him. When the king beheld those heaps of wealth—rare and abundant—brought from afar, he was filled with delight and wonder. There was more than a thousand crores of gold for the great-souled Dharmarāja, along with splendid gems, and great numbers of cows, goats, sheep, and buffaloes. Having presented all of it to Dharmarāja, Sahadeva—his task accomplished—dwelt happily in the capital, O Janamejaya. The passage highlights the ethic of rightful acquisition and dutiful offering: prosperity is treated not as personal spoil but as a trust to be placed at the service of the righteous king and the larger sacrificial purpose.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage emphasizes dharmic stewardship of wealth: riches gained through sanctioned duty are not treated as private indulgence but are respectfully offered to the righteous king (Dharmarāja) for the common good and the larger sacrificial-political purpose. It also models humility and proper conduct—Sahadeva approaches with joined palms, receives honor without arrogance, and completes his task without clinging to the fruits.
Sahadeva arrives at Indraprastha carrying an immense load of treasure with night-roaming attendants. He respectfully greets Yudhiṣṭhira, who honors him in return. Yudhiṣṭhira is delighted and astonished at the rare abundance—gold, gems, and livestock. Sahadeva formally presents everything to Dharmarāja and then lives contentedly in the capital, his mission fulfilled.