Shloka 12
Adhyāya 42 (Śānti Parva): Śrāddha, Aurdhvadaihika Rites, and Royal Welfare Measures
स विजित्य महीं कृत्स्नामानृण्यं प्राप्य वैरिषु । नि:ःसपत्न: सुखी राजा विजहार युधिष्ठिर:
sa vijitya mahīṁ kṛtsnām ānṛṇyaṁ prāpya vairiṣu | niḥsapatnaḥ sukhī rājā vijahāra yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Ayant conquis toute la terre et s’étant acquitté de ses obligations envers ses ennemis, le roi Yudhiṣṭhira — désormais sans rival et l’esprit en paix — passa son temps dans une jouissance tranquille. Le vers présente sa souveraineté d’après-guerre non comme une simple puissance, mais comme un état obtenu après avoir réglé les comptes et rétabli l’équilibre moral.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links rightful sovereignty with ethical closure: victory is not complete until one becomes ānṛṇya—free from outstanding obligations and moral debts, even in relation to enemies—so that peace and legitimacy can follow.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira, after securing dominion over the whole realm and settling what was due in the aftermath of conflict, became unrivaled and lived as a contented king in a period of stability.