Shloka 18
Tīrtha-yātrā: Prayāga-saṅgama and Gayaśiras—Rājarṣi Gaya’s Mahāyajña
अथ व्यासो महाभागस्तथा पर्वतनारदौ,इतनेहीमें महाभाग व्यास, पर्वत और नारद आदि मनीषीजन काम्यकवनमें पाण्डुनन्दन युधिष्ठिससे मिलनेके लिये आये। राजा युधिष्ठिरने उनकी विधिपूर्वक पूजा की। उनसे सत्कार पाकर वे महाभाग महर्षि महाराज युधिष्ठिरसे इस प्रकार बोले
atha vyāso mahābhāgas tathā parvata-nāradau kāmyakavanaṃ samāgatāḥ pāṇḍunandanaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraṃ draṣṭum | rājā yudhiṣṭhiras tān vidhivat pūjayām āsa | te satkṛtāḥ prītamanasaḥ mahābhāgā maharṣayaḥ mahārājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram evaṃ vacanam ūcuḥ |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Kemudian resi termasyhur Vyāsa, bersama para resi Parvata dan Nārada, datang ke hutan Kāmyaka untuk menemui Yudhiṣṭhira, putera Pāṇḍu. Raja Yudhiṣṭhira menyambut mereka dengan upacara yang sewajarnya dan layanan penuh hormat. Berkenan atas sambutan itu, para maharesi pun berkata kepada Maharaja Yudhiṣṭhira seperti berikut—membuka tirai nasihat yang berteraskan dharma, kerendahan hati, dan kewajipan raja yang adil walau dalam buangan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in adversity and exile, a righteous king upholds dharma through humility, proper conduct, and reverent hospitality toward sages; such respect becomes the gateway to receiving higher counsel.
Vyāsa arrives at the Kāmyaka forest with Parvata and Nārada to meet Yudhiṣṭhira. Yudhiṣṭhira honors them according to ritual propriety, and, pleased with his reception, the sages begin to address him—introducing the forthcoming instruction.