Shloka 9
नलदमयन्त्युपाख्यानम्—नलप्रशंसा हंसदूतवृत्तान्तः
Nala–Damayantī Upākhyāna: Praise of Nala and the Swan-Messenger Episode
पुत्रानिव प्रियान् भ्रातृजज्ञातीनिव सहोदरान् । पुपोष कौरवश्रेष्ठो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिर:,कुरुकुलतिलक धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर अपने भाइयोंका प्रिय पुत्रोंकी भाँति तथा ज्ञातिजनोंका सहोदर भाइयोंके समान पालन-पोषण करते थे
vaiśampāyana uvāca | putrān iva priyān bhrātṛjñātīn iva sahodarān | pupoṣa kauravaśreṣṭho dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ |
Vaiśampāyana said: The righteous king Yudhiṣṭhira, the finest among the Kurus, cared for and sustained his beloved brothers as though they were his own sons, and treated his kinsmen like true full brothers—nourishing them with protection, provision, and impartial affection in accordance with dharma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma in leadership is shown as active care: a righteous ruler sustains dependents and relatives with the same protective affection one would give to one’s own children, without partiality or neglect.
The narrator describes Yudhiṣṭhira’s character: he maintains and supports his brothers and kinsmen, emphasizing his role as Dharmarāja and the exemplary Kuru who upholds family welfare.