Shloka 5
Rāmopākhyāna—Rāma–Sītā Origins and the Opening of Rāvaṇa’s Genealogy
सुहृदस्त्वब्रुवंस्तत्र अति सर्वानयं क्रतुः । ययातिर्नहुषश्चापि मान्धाता भरतस्तथा
suhṛdās tv abruvaṃs tatra ati sarvān ayaṃ kratuḥ | yayātir nahuṣaś cāpi māndhātā bharatas tathā
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Di situ, sahabat-sahabat yang berhati baik bersuara: “Korban suci ini mengatasi semua yang lain.” Mereka juga menyebut teladan raja-raja masyhur—Yayāti, Nahuṣa, Māndhātṛ, dan Bharata.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how communal testimony and remembrance of exemplary ancient kings are used to validate a ritual’s greatness. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s tendency to ground present judgments in inherited standards of dharma, merit, and royal precedent.
In the course of the narration, well-wishers present at the event declare that the ongoing sacrifice surpasses others. To reinforce their praise, they invoke renowned figures—Yayāti, Nahuṣa, Māndhātṛ, and Bharata—whose names function as benchmarks of celebrated royal achievement and merit.