Shloka 22
Rājarṣi-samāgamaḥ — Yudhiṣṭhirasya Dharma-parīkṣā ca
Meeting the Royal Sage and a Dharmic Audit
आदाय पाण्डवांश्वैव तांश्ष विप्राननेकश: । लोमशेनैव सहिता: प्रययु: प्रीतमानसा:,जनमेजय! तब कुबेरके उस सरोवरका पता जाननेवाले उन घटोत्कच आदि सब राक्षसोंने “तथास्तु/ कहकर पाण्डवों तथा उन अनेकानेक ब्राह्मणोंको कंधेपर बैठाकर लोमशजीके साथ वहाँसे प्रसन्नतापूर्वक प्रस्थान किया
ādāya pāṇḍavāṁś caiva tāṁś ca viprān anekaśaḥ | lomaśenaiva sahitāḥ prayayuḥ prītamānasāḥ, janamejaya ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Janamejaya, rākṣasa seperti Ghaṭotkaca yang mengetahui jalan ke tasik Kubera telah menyahut, ‘Demikianlah.’ Lalu mereka mengangkat para Pāṇḍava dan ramai brāhmaṇa (memikul mereka di atas bahu), dan berangkat dari situ bersama resi Lomaśa dengan hati yang gembira.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic support and respectful cooperation: even powerful beings like rākṣasas can act as protectors and helpers of the righteous when guided by a sage, showing that conduct (ācāra) matters more than mere identity.
Rākṣasas who know the route to Kubera’s lake agree to lead the way; they physically carry the Pāṇḍavas and numerous brāhmaṇas on their shoulders and depart joyfully together with the sage Lomaśa.