Shloka 25
Śiśupāla’s Protest Against the Arghya to Kṛṣṇa (शिशुपाल-आक्षेपः)
वृतं सदस्यैर्बहुभिर्धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् । तत् सद:ः पार्थिव कीर्ण ब्राह्मणैश्व महर्षिभि | भ्राजते सम तदा राजन् नाकपृष्ठं यथामरै:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | vṛtaṃ sadasyair bahubhir dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | tat sadaḥ pārthiva kīrṇaṃ brāhmaṇaiś ca maharṣibhiḥ | bhrājate sma tadā rājan nākapṛṣṭhaṃ yathāmaraiḥ ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Rodeado por numerosos miembros de la asamblea, el justo rey Yudhiṣṭhira era atendido. Aquel salón, atestado de reyes y colmado de brāhmaṇas y grandes sabios, resplandecía entonces, oh Rey, como la cumbre misma del cielo, poblada de dioses: imagen del orden real sostenido por el dharma y santificado por la autoridad espiritual.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical ideal of kingship: a ruler’s legitimacy and splendor are grounded in dharma and affirmed by the presence of brāhmaṇas and sages. A truly ‘heaven-like’ court is one where political power is tempered by moral law and spiritual counsel.
Vaiśampāyana describes the scene of Yudhiṣṭhira in the assembly, surrounded by many courtiers and with the hall filled by kings, brāhmaṇas, and great ṛṣis. The gathering is portrayed as radiant and orderly, comparable to heaven filled with gods.