Hiḍimbā’s Account and the Bhīma–Hiḍimba Engagement (आदि पर्व, अध्याय १४२)
भृता हि पाण्डुनामात्या बल॑ च सततं भृतम् । भृताः पुत्राश्न पौत्राश्ष॒ तेषामपि विशेषत:,पाण्डुने सभी मन्त्रियों तथा सैनिकोंका सदा पालन-पोषण किया था। उनका ही नहीं, उनके पुत्र-पौत्रोंक भी भरण-पोषणका विशेष ध्यान रखा था
vaiśampāyana uvāca | bhṛtā hi pāṇḍunāmātyā balaṃ ca satataṃ bhṛtam | bhṛtāḥ putrāś ca pautrāś ca teṣām api viśeṣataḥ ||
वैशंपायन म्हणाले—पांडूने आपल्या मंत्र्यांचे आणि सैन्याचे सतत पालन-पोषण केले होते. एवढेच नव्हे, त्यांच्या पुत्र-पौत्रांचेही विशेषतः भरण-पोषण केले होते.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights rājadharma: a king’s ethical obligation is not merely to command service but to sustain those who serve him—ministers and soldiers—and to extend protection and livelihood to their families, ensuring social stability and gratitude-based loyalty.
Vaiśampāyana describes Pāṇḍu’s conduct as a ruler, emphasizing that he regularly provided for his administrative and military personnel and took special care to support even their sons and grandsons, portraying him as conscientious and generous in governance.