Shloka 24
Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna Saṃvāda in Indraprastha: Consolation, Legitimation, and Leave for Dvārakā (आश्वमेधिकपर्व, अध्याय १५)
यद्यपि पाण्डुपुत्र युधिष्ठिर हमारे शासक और शिक्षक हैं तो भी हमलोगोंने शिक्षा दी है और जन श्रेष्ठ महात्माने हमारी उन सभी बातोंको भलीभाँति स्वीकार किया है ।। धर्मपुत्रे हि धर्मज्ञे कृतज्ञे सत्यवादिनि । सत्यं धर्मो मतिश्नाग्रया स्थितिश्ष॒ सततं स्थिरा,धर्मपुत्र राजा युधिष्ठिर धर्मज्ञ, कृतज्ञ और सत्यवादी हैं। उनमें सत्य, धर्म, उत्तम बुद्धि तथा ऊँची स्थिति आदि गुण सदा स्थिरभावसे रहते हैं
vāyudeva uvāca | yady api pāṇḍuputra yudhiṣṭhira asmākaṃ śāsakaś ca śikṣakaś ca, tathāpi vayam eva śikṣāṃ dattavantaḥ; janaśreṣṭho mahātmā ca asmākaṃ tāḥ sarvāḥ kathāḥ samyag abhyupagataḥ || dharmaputre hi dharmajñe kṛtajñe satyavādini | satyaṃ dharmo matiś cāgryā sthitiś ca satataṃ sthirā ||
Vāyu said: “Although Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Pāṇḍu, is our ruler and our teacher, it is still we who have offered instruction; and that best of men, the great-souled one, has accepted all our words in the right spirit. For in Dharmaputra—wise in dharma, grateful, and devoted to truth—truthfulness, righteousness, the highest discernment, and steadfast dignity remain continually firm.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True leadership is marked by stable virtues: truthfulness, commitment to dharma, refined discernment, gratitude, and unwavering steadiness. Even a ruler-teacher like Yudhiṣṭhira remains exemplary because these qualities are continually firm in him, and he is receptive to sound counsel.
Vāyu speaks in praise of Yudhiṣṭhira, noting that although Yudhiṣṭhira is their superior and instructor, he still accepts instruction offered to him. The passage underscores Yudhiṣṭhira’s character—his truth, dharma, wisdom, and steadfast dignity.