Shloka 23
अध्याय ९ — धृतराष्ट्रस्य युधिष्ठिरं प्रति राजनित्युपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Royal Policy to Yudhiṣṭhira
राजर्षीणां पुराणानां भवतां पुण्यकर्मणाम्
rājarṣīṇāṃ purāṇānāṃ bhavatāṃ puṇyakarmaṇām | yajñeṣu mahadbhir dākṣiṇyaiḥ pradātṝṇāṃ dharmātmanām | eṣa dharmātmā rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ prācīnakālasya puṇyātmanāṃ rājarṣīṇāṃ kuru-saṃvaraṇādīnāṃ tathā buddhimato rājño bharatasya vṛttam anusarati |
Vaiśaṃpāyana dit : Ce roi juste, Yudhiṣṭhira—célèbre pour les larges dons offerts lors des sacrifices—suit la conduite des antiques rājarsis méritants, tels Kuru et Saṃvaraṇa, et celle aussi du sage roi Bharata. Ce faisant, il accorde sa royauté aux anciennes normes du dharma, où la générosité, la maîtrise de soi et l’exemplarité du souverain sont tenues pour la véritable mesure de la vertu.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ideal kingship is measured by dharma expressed through exemplary conduct and generosity—especially the disciplined giving of dakṣiṇā in yajñas—and by consciously emulating the standards set by revered ancestors and royal seers.
Vaiśaṃpāyana characterizes Yudhiṣṭhira’s rule and personal ethic by linking him to a lineage of ancient exemplary rulers (Kuru, Saṃvaraṇa, Bharata), emphasizing that Yudhiṣṭhira models his behavior on their established royal norms.