Shloka 21
Rājarṣi-samāgamaḥ — Yudhiṣṭhirasya Dharma-parīkṣā ca
Meeting the Royal Sage and a Dharmic Audit
तथेत्युक्त्वा तु ते सर्वे हैडिम्बप्रमुखास्तदा । उद्देशज्ञा: कुबेरस्य नलिन्या भरतर्षभ,जनमेजय! तब कुबेरके उस सरोवरका पता जाननेवाले उन घटोत्कच आदि सब राक्षसोंने “तथास्तु/ कहकर पाण्डवों तथा उन अनेकानेक ब्राह्मणोंको कंधेपर बैठाकर लोमशजीके साथ वहाँसे प्रसन्नतापूर्वक प्रस्थान किया
tathety uktvā tu te sarve haiḍimbapramukhās tadā | uddeśajñāḥ kuberasya nalinyā bharatarṣabha janamejaya ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Janamejaya, banteng di antara Bharata! Setelah menjawab, ‘Demikianlah,’ semua rākṣasa—dipimpin kaum Haiḍimba—yang mengetahui jalan menuju Nalinī, telaga teratai milik Kubera, mengangkat para Pāṇḍava serta banyak brāhmaṇa di atas bahu mereka, lalu berangkat dari tempat itu bersama resi Lomaśa dengan hati bersukacita.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Assistance offered in a righteous cause is a form of dharma: strength and power become ethically meaningful when used to protect travelers, support sages, and serve a just journey.
The Haiḍimba-led rākṣasas, familiar with the way to Kubera’s lotus-lake (Nalini), agree to help. They depart happily with Lomaśa, carrying the Pāṇḍavas and many brāhmaṇas on their shoulders to guide them onward.