Shloka 18

युधिष्ठिरस्य राज्याभिषेकः | Yudhiṣṭhira’s Royal Consecration

Devanagari script

पूजयामास तांश्वापि विधिवद्‌ भूरिदक्षिण:

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | pūjayāmāsa tān śv api vidhivad bhūridakṣiṇaḥ |

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana dijo: El rey Yudhiṣṭhira, célebre por otorgar dones abundantes, hizo que bráhmanas eruditos y dueños de sí—dotados de estudio védico, firmeza y buena conducta—recitaran bendiciones auspiciosas. Luego los honró conforme al rito y les concedió generosas dádivas. El pasaje subraya que la realeza justa no se expresa sólo por el poder, sino por la reverencia al saber, la virtud disciplinada y el mantenimiento del orden sagrado mediante una liberalidad oportuna y conforme a la ley del dharma.

Word by Word

• पूजयामास: worshipped / honored
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथम, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)

• विधिवत्: according to rule / duly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय; विधि + वत्)

• भूरिदक्षिणः: one who gives abundant fees (generous donor)
• भूरिदक्षिणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरिदक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Brāhmaṇas
• Veda
• dakṣiṇā (ritual gifts)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma in governance is shown through vidhivat (rule-bound) honor and generous dakṣiṇā to worthy recipients—especially those grounded in Vedic learning and good conduct—thereby sustaining social and sacred order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira arranges auspicious blessing-recitation by learned, disciplined Brāhmaṇas, then formally honors them and gives them substantial gifts, illustrating his role as a righteous, generous king.