Shloka 22
शकुनेः पुत्रेण सह आश्वमेधाश्वविषयः संघर्षः — Arjuna’s restrained engagement with Śakuni’s son during the horse-escort
तथा तस्मिन् महायज्ञे धर्मराजस्य धीमतः । समाजम्मुर्मुनिगणा बहवो ब्रह्मवादिन:,बुद्धिमान् धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरके उस महायज्ञमें बहुत-से वेदवेत्ता मुनिगण भी पधारे थे
tathā tasmin mahāyajñe dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ | samājamur munigaṇā bahavo brahmavādinaḥ ||
Thus, at that great sacrifice of the wise Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira), many companies of sages—learned exponents of Brahman and the Veda—assembled. The scene underscores that a king’s righteous rule and solemn ritual draw the presence and scrutiny of spiritual authorities, linking royal power to dharma and learned counsel.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Righteous kingship is not merely political; it is anchored in dharma and validated by the presence of learned sages. A major sacrifice becomes a public ethical-religious act where spiritual authorities gather, implying accountability, guidance, and the alignment of royal action with Vedic norms.
During Yudhiṣṭhira’s great sacrificial rite, many Veda-versed sages and Brahman-expounders arrive and assemble at the venue, marking the ceremony’s grandeur and its recognition by the wider spiritual community.