Shloka 38
अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)
दिष्ट्या पश्यामि राजेन्द्र धर्मात्मानं सहानुगम् । निस्तीर्ण दुष्करं राजंस्त्वां धर्मनिचयं प्रभो
diṣṭyā paśyāmi rājendra dharmātmānaṃ sahānugam | nistīrṇaṃ duṣkaraṃ rājan tvāṃ dharmanidhayaṃ prabho ||
“Por boa fortuna eu te contemplo, ó melhor dos reis—reto de espírito e acompanhado dos teus. Transpuseste o que era difícil de transpor; ó rei, ó senhor, és um verdadeiro tesouro de dharma. Ver-te agora, depois de haveres cumprido com teus irmãos aquele voto árduo, é de fato uma bênção para mim.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds dharma as a king’s defining wealth: true royal excellence is measured by righteous character and the successful completion of difficult vows or duties, especially when done responsibly with one’s companions.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a king with reverence, expressing joy at seeing him safely after he has completed a hard undertaking (described as ‘crossing the difficult’), praising him as dharmātmā and a repository of dharma, accompanied by his followers.