Shloka 5
Āśvamedhika-parva, Adhyāya 14
Consolation of Yudhiṣṭhira; Rites and Gifts; Return to Hastināpura
अर्चयामास देवांश्र ब्राह्मणांश्व युधिष्ठिर: । कृत्वाथ प्रेतकार्याणि बन्धूनां स पुनर्न॒प:
arcayāmāsa devānś ca brāhmaṇānś ca yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | kṛtvātha pretakāryāṇi bandhūnāṃ sa punar nṛpaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Raja Yudhiṣṭhira telah memuja para dewa dengan sewajarnya dan memuliakan para Brāhmaṇa; dan setelah melaksanakan upacara kematian serta śrāddha bagi sanak saudara yang telah pergi, baginda kembali memikul tugas kerajaannya, dengan hati tertuju kepada dharma dan pemulihan tatanan yang benar.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even after catastrophic conflict, dharma requires restoration through proper rites: honouring the divine and the learned, and fulfilling obligations to the dead. Kingship is shown as grounded in ritual responsibility, gratitude, and ethical repair rather than mere power.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira worships the gods and honours the Brāhmaṇas, then completes the funerary duties for his slain relatives; having done so, he returns to the role and responsibilities of a king.