Shloka 20
Nahūṣa-Ājagara Saṃvāda: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Definition of Brāhmaṇa and the ‘Vedyam’ Debate
समाप्तकर्मा सहित: सुहद्धि- जिंत्वा सपत्नान् प्रतिलभ्य राज्यम् शैलेन्द्र भूयस्तपसे जितात्मा द्रष्टा तवास्मीति मतिं चकार,'शैलेन्द्र अब अपने मन और बुद्धिको संयममें रखनेवाला मैं शत्रुओंको जीतकर अपना खोया हुआ राज्य पानेके बाद सुहृदोंके साथ अपना सब कार्य सम्पन्न करके पुनः तपस्याके लिये लौटनेपर आपका दर्शन करूँगा" इस प्रकार युधिष्ठिरने निश्चय किया
samāptakarmā sahitaḥ suhṛdbhiḥ jitvā sapatnān pratilabhya rājyam | śailendra bhūyas tapase jitātmā draṣṭā tavāsmīti matiṃ cakāra ||
E assim firmou o seu propósito: “Ó senhor das montanhas! Depois de vencer meus rivais e recuperar o reino perdido, concluirei, com meus amigos, tudo o que deve ser feito; então, com a mente dominada, voltarei para a austeridade e virei ver-te novamente.” Desse modo selou sua intenção.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic balance: rightful kingship and the recovery of order are pursued without losing inner discipline. Even after worldly success (victory and regained sovereignty), Yudhiṣṭhira prioritizes completing obligations to allies and then returning to tapas—showing that power should be governed by self-mastery and a continued commitment to spiritual discipline.
Vaiśampāyana narrates Yudhiṣṭhira’s resolve addressed to ‘Śailendra’ (a great mountain-lord). Yudhiṣṭhira declares that after defeating rivals and recovering his kingdom, he will conclude necessary affairs with his companions and then return again to perform austerities and seek the mountain-lord’s audience.