Shloka 38
अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)
दिष्ट्या पश्यामि राजेन्द्र धर्मात्मानं सहानुगम् । निस्तीर्ण दुष्करं राजंस्त्वां धर्मनिचयं प्रभो
diṣṭyā paśyāmi rājendra dharmātmānaṃ sahānugam | nistīrṇaṃ duṣkaraṃ rājan tvāṃ dharmanidhayaṃ prabho ||
«Par heureuse fortune, je te vois, ô meilleur des rois—d’âme juste et entouré des tiens. Tu as franchi ce qu’il était difficile de franchir ; ô roi, ô seigneur, tu es un véritable trésor de dharma. Te voir à présent, après que tu as accompli avec tes frères ce vœu si pénible, est pour moi une bénédiction.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds dharma as a king’s defining wealth: true royal excellence is measured by righteous character and the successful completion of difficult vows or duties, especially when done responsibly with one’s companions.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a king with reverence, expressing joy at seeing him safely after he has completed a hard undertaking (described as ‘crossing the difficult’), praising him as dharmātmā and a repository of dharma, accompanied by his followers.