Shloka 231
धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनप्रस्थानानुज्ञा | Permission for Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Forest-Retirement
युधिष्ठिरगते राज्ये प्राप्तश्चास्मि सुखं महत् । मन्ये दुर्योधनैश्वर्याद् विशिष्टमिति सत्तमा:
yudhiṣṭhiragate rājye prāptaś cāsmi sukhaṃ mahat | manye duryodhanaiśvaryād viśiṣṭam iti sattamaḥ ||
ਵੈਸ਼ੰਪਾਯਨ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਜਦੋਂ ਰਾਜ ਯੁਧਿਸ਼ਠਿਰ ਦੇ ਹੱਥ ਆ ਗਿਆ, ਤਦ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਮਹਾਨ ਸੁਖ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੋਇਆ। ਹੇ ਸਤਪੁਰਖ-ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ, ਮੈਂ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਦੁਰਯੋਧਨ ਦੇ ਪੁਰਾਣੇ ਐਸ਼ਵਰਯ ਤੋਂ ਵੀ ਉੱਤਮ ਸਮਝਦਾ ਹਾਂ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts two models of sovereignty: rule grounded in dharma (Yudhiṣṭhira) versus rule driven by unjust ambition (Duryodhana). It implies that the moral quality of governance directly affects collective well-being, making righteous kingship ‘superior’ not merely politically but ethically.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a speaker expresses relief and happiness that the kingdom is now under Yudhiṣṭhira’s authority, judging this situation better than the earlier period when Duryodhana held power.