Shloka 33
राजधर्मः—प्रजापालनं दानयज्ञश्च
Royal Duty—Protection of Subjects, Generosity, and Sacrificial Discipline
युधिछिर उवाच कि तात परमं स्वर्ग्यं का ततः प्रीतिरुत्तमा । कि ततः परमैश्चर्य ब्रूहि मे यदि पश्यसि,युधिष्ठटिरने पूछा--तात! स्वर्ग-प्राप्तिका उत्तम साधन क्या है? उससे कौन-सी उत्तम प्रसन्नता प्राप्त होती है? तथा उसकी अपेक्षा महान् ऐश्वर्य क्या है? यदि आप इन बातोंको जानते हैं तो मुझे बताइये
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: kiṃ tāta paramaṃ svargyaṃ kā tataḥ prītir uttamā | kiṃ tataḥ paramaiśvaryaṃ brūhi me yadi paśyasi ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Wahai ayah, apakah sarana tertinggi yang mengantarkan ke surga? Sukacita paling luhur apakah yang lahir darinya? Dan kemakmuran apakah yang paling agung, bahkan melampaui itu? Jika engkau sungguh memahaminya, katakanlah kepadaku.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a graded ethical inquiry: (1) the supreme practice that leads to heaven, (2) the highest inner joy born of that practice, and (3) an even greater ‘aiśvarya’—suggesting that true excellence is not merely external reward but a higher good that surpasses heavenly merit, inviting reflection on dharma’s deeper fruits.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction-setting, Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully questions an elder teacher, asking for guidance on the best heaven-leading discipline, the finest satisfaction it yields, and what surpasses even those—preparing the ground for a discourse on values beyond mere reward.