Shloka 35
अक्षविजय-प्रसङ्गः
Escalation of Wagers and Shakuni’s Repeated Declarations of Victory
ततः कृताह्विका: सर्वे दिव्यचन्दनभूषिता: । कल्याणमनसश्रवैव ब्राह्मणान् स्वस्ति वाच्य च
tataḥ kṛtāhvīkāḥ sarve divyacandanabhūṣitāḥ | kalyāṇamanasaś caiva brāhmaṇān svasti vācya ca ||
Alors tous ceux qui avaient été conviés et s’étaient assemblés—parés de santal céleste—s’avancèrent avec une intention de bon augure, et l’on rendit aux brahmanes les honneurs dus, en les priant de prononcer des bénédictions de bien-être. La scène souligne que, même au milieu de l’apparat politique, la bienséance rituelle et l’hommage aux brahmanes par la bénédiction demeurent des marques de légitimité et de dharma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that public actions in a royal setting should be framed by auspicious intention and ritual correctness—especially honoring Brahmins and seeking blessings—since such observances are traditional signs of dharmic order and social legitimacy.
Those who have been invited gather, adorned with fine sandalwood, and the Brahmins are formally greeted and requested to utter svasti (benedictory words), setting an auspicious ceremonial tone for the proceedings in the assembly.