Shloka 62
वैशम्पायन उवाच स पुत्रस्य वच: श्रुत्वा विराटो राष्ट्रवर्धन: । क्षमयामास कौन्तेयं भस्मच्छन्नमिवानलम्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--राजन! पुत्रकी यह बात सुनकर अपने राष्ट्रकी वृद्धि करनेवाले महाराज विराटने राखमें छिपी हुई अग्निकी भाँति तेजस्वी कुन्तीनन्दन युधिष्ठिरसे क्षमा माँगी
vaiśampāyana uvāca | sa putrasya vacaḥ śrutvā virāṭo rāṣṭravardhanaḥ | kṣamayāmāsa kaunteyaṃ bhasmacchannam ivānalam ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Setelah mendengar kata-kata puteranya, Raja Virāṭa—yang masyhur memperkembangkan kerajaannya—memohon keampunan daripada Yudhiṣṭhira, putera Kuntī, yang walau terselindung, tetap menyala dengan daya batin seperti api di bawah abu.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True authority is strengthened by humility: when a ruler recognizes concealed excellence and admits fault, he upholds dharma. The metaphor of fire under ashes teaches that virtue and power may be hidden by disguise or circumstance, yet remain real and worthy of respect.
After hearing his son’s statement, King Virāṭa realizes the true stature of the Kuntī-born Yudhiṣṭhira (living incognito) and seeks his pardon, acknowledging that Yudhiṣṭhira’s brilliance was present though outwardly concealed.