Shloka 17
Nahūṣa-Ājagara Saṃvāda: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Definition of Brāhmaṇa and the ‘Vedyam’ Debate
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततस्तदाज्ञाय मतं महात्मा तेषां च धर्मस्य सुतो वरिष्ठ:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! तदनन्तर धर्म और अर्थके तत्त्वको जाननेवाले उत्तम ओजसे सम्पन्न श्रेष्ठ महात्मा धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिने उस समय उन सबके अभिप्रायको जानकर कुबेरके निवासस्थान उस गन्धमादन पर्वतकी प्रदक्षिणा की। फिर उन्होंने वहाँके भवनों, नदियों, सरोवरों तथा समस्त राक्षसोंसे विदा ली। इसके बाद वे जिस मार्गसे आये थे, उसकी ओर देखने लगे। तदनन्तर उन विशुद्धबुद्धि महात्मा युधिष्ठिरने पुनः गन्धमादन पर्वतकी ओर देखते हुए उस श्रेष्ठ गिरिराजसे इस प्रकार प्रार्थना की
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tatas tadājñāya mataṃ mahātmā teṣāṃ ca dharmasya suto variṣṭhaḥ |
Vaiśampāyana said: Then that great-souled one—the foremost son of Dharma—having understood their intention, acted in accordance with what was fitting. (Here the narrative turns to Yudhiṣṭhira’s discerning response to the group’s resolve, grounding the next action in dharma-informed judgment rather than impulse.)
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma-guided leadership: Yudhiṣṭhira first understands others’ intentions and then responds from discernment and moral clarity, not from haste or emotion.
Vaiśampāyana narrates a transition: Yudhiṣṭhira, described as the foremost son of Dharma, comprehends the companions’ resolve and prepares to act accordingly, setting up the subsequent events in the episode.