Mahabharata — Mahaprasthanika Parva, Shloka 36
Adhyāya 3: Indra’s Invitation and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Refusal to Abandon the Dog
Svargārohaṇa Test
युधिष्ठिरस्तु देवेन्द्रमेवंवादिनमी श्वरम् । पुनरेवाब्रवीद् धीमानिदं वचनमर्थवत्,ऐसी बात कहते हुए ऐश्वर्यशाली देवराजसे बुद्धिमान् युधिष्ठिरने पुनः यह अर्थयुक्त वचन कहा--
yudhiṣṭhiras tu devendram evaṃ-vādinam īśvaram | punar evābravīd dhīmān idaṃ vacanam arthavat ||
वैशम्पायन बोले—इस प्रकार कहते हुए देवों के स्वामी देवेन्द्र से बुद्धिमान युधिष्ठिर ने फिर एक बार यह अर्थपूर्ण वचन कहा।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Meaningful speech grounded in discernment is integral to dharma: Yudhiṣṭhira does not abandon ethical reasoning even when addressing a divine sovereign, showing that righteousness involves thoughtful, purposeful articulation.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that after Indra has spoken, Yudhiṣṭhira responds again, preparing to state a significant point—continuing the moral dialogue central to the Mahāprasthānika episode.