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 ||
सौभाग्य से, हे राजेन्द्र, मैं तुम्हें धर्मात्मा और अपने अनुयायियों सहित देख रहा हूँ। हे राजन्, हे प्रभो! तुमने जो दुष्कर था उसे पार कर लिया; तुम तो धर्म की निधि हो। भाइयों सहित उस कठिन प्रतिज्ञा को पूर्ण करके आज तुम्हें देखना—यह मेरा अहोभाग्य है।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
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.