Shloka 25
Śiśupāla’s Protest Against the Arghya to Kṛṣṇa (शिशुपाल-आक्षेपः)
वृतं सदस्यैर्बहुभिर्धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् । तत् सद:ः पार्थिव कीर्ण ब्राह्मणैश्व महर्षिभि | भ्राजते सम तदा राजन् नाकपृष्ठं यथामरै:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | vṛtaṃ sadasyair bahubhir dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | tat sadaḥ pārthiva kīrṇaṃ brāhmaṇaiś ca maharṣibhiḥ | bhrājate sma tadā rājan nākapṛṣṭhaṃ yathāmaraiḥ ||
Waiśampāyana berkata—di sana Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, yang dikelilingi banyak anggota sidang, dilayani dan dihormati. Wahai Raja, balai itu, padat oleh para raja serta dipenuhi brāhmaṇa dan resi agung, bersinar pada saat itu laksana puncak surga yang dipadati para dewa.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical ideal of kingship: a ruler’s legitimacy and splendor are grounded in dharma and affirmed by the presence of brāhmaṇas and sages. A truly ‘heaven-like’ court is one where political power is tempered by moral law and spiritual counsel.
Vaiśampāyana describes the scene of Yudhiṣṭhira in the assembly, surrounded by many courtiers and with the hall filled by kings, brāhmaṇas, and great ṛṣis. The gathering is portrayed as radiant and orderly, comparable to heaven filled with gods.