Jarītā-Śārṅgaka-saṃvādaḥ — The Dialogue of Jaritā and the Śārṅgaka Chicks
Fire-escape deliberation
आश्रित्य धर्मराजानं सर्वलोको5वसत् सुखम् । पुण्यलक्षणकर्माणं स्वदेहमिव देहिन:,धर्मराज युधिष्ठटिका आसरा लेकर सब लोग सुखसे रहने लगे, जैसे जीवात्मा पुण्यकर्मोके फलस्वरूप अपने उत्तम शरीरको पाकर सुखसे रहता है
āśritya dharmarājānaṃ sarvaloko ’vasat sukham | puṇyalakṣaṇakarmāṇaṃ svadeham iva dehinaḥ ||
धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरांचा आश्रय घेऊन सर्व लोक सुखाने राहू लागले; जसे पुण्यकर्मांच्या फलाने उत्तम देह मिळाल्यावर देही सुखाने वास करतो.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse teaches that a ruler grounded in dharma becomes a true refuge for society: when people rely on a righteous king, collective well-being follows. It also links happiness to puṇya—ethical action bears fruit, just as merit yields a favorable embodiment and consequent ease.
Vaiśampāyana describes a period under Yudhiṣṭhira’s protection in which the populace lives peacefully and happily. The narrator uses a simile: as an individual enjoys a good body obtained through meritorious deeds, so the people enjoy comfort by depending on Dharmarāja.