Shloka 5
Jarītā-Śārṅgaka-saṃvādaḥ — The Dialogue of Jaritā and the Śārṅgaka Chicks
Fire-escape deliberation
अध्येतारं पर वेदान् प्रयोक्तारं महाध्वरे । रक्षितारं शुभालल्लोकान् लेभिरे तं जनाधिपम्
adhyetāraṃ para-vedān prayoktāraṃ mahādhvare | rakṣitāraṃ śubhāṃl lokān lebhire taṃ janādhipam ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Rakyat memperoleh penguasa manusia itu sebagai raja—seorang pengkaji Weda tertinggi, yang mahir menerapkan sabda Weda dalam upacara kurban agung, dan senantiasa bersungguh menjaga dunia-dunia yang suci. Demikianlah, wahai raja, dalam diri Yudhiṣṭhira mereka menemukan pemimpin yang tekun merenungkan Yang Mahatinggi dan menegakkan tatanan dharma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents the ethical ideal of kingship: a ruler should unite Vedic learning with correct ritual application and, above all, protect the auspicious order of the world (dharma). Knowledge is not merely theoretical; it must be responsibly enacted and oriented toward the welfare and safeguarding of society and cosmic order.
Vaiśampāyana is describing how the people came to have Yudhiṣṭhira as their king, praising him as a master of sacred learning, competent in conducting great sacrifices, and committed to protecting auspicious realms—thereby portraying him as a model sovereign.