Shloka 39
Adhyāya 33: Antarvedī-Samāgama, Arghya-Nirṇaya, and Śiśupāla’s Objection
तत आज्ञापयामास स राजा राजसत्तम: | सहदेवं तदा सद्यो मन्त्रिणं पुरुषर्षभ:,तदनन्तर राजशिरोमणि नरश्रेष्ठ धर्मराज युधिष्छिरने तुरंत ही मन्त्री सहदेवको आज्ञा दी, 'सब राजाओं तथा ब्राह्मणोंको आमन्त्रित करनेके लिये तुरंत ही शीघ्रगामी दूत भेजो।' राजाकी यह बात सुनकर सहदेवने दूतोंको भेजा और कहा--
tata ājñāpayāmāsa sa rājā rājasattamaḥ | sahadevaṃ tadā sadyo mantriṇaṃ puruṣarṣabhaḥ ||
Kemudian raja itu—terunggul antara raja-raja, gagah laksana lembu jantan di antara manusia—segera memerintah menterinya, Sahadeva. Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, yang menitikberatkan tertib dan penghormatan sewajarnya, mengarahkan agar utusan-utusan pantas dihantar untuk menjemput para raja dan para brāhmaṇa, supaya upacara diraja dan majlis yang bakal berlangsung berjalan menurut dharma dan adat yang sah.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma in governance is shown through orderly administration: a righteous king acts through proper counsel, timely commands, and due respect to social and ritual stakeholders (kings and brāhmaṇas), ensuring that public acts proceed with legitimacy and decorum.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira immediately instructs his minister Sahadeva to take administrative action—sending swift messengers to invite rulers and brāhmaṇas—so preparations for the impending royal assembly/rite can proceed.