Shloka 20
Nārada’s Exempla of Tapas and Assurance to Dhṛtarāṣṭra (नारदोपदेशः—तपःसिद्ध्युदाहरणम्)
भरतश्रेष्ठ] भीमसेन आदि पाण्डव भी राजाके चरण छूकर प्रणाम करनेके पश्चात् उनकी आज्ञासे बैठ गये ।। स तै: परिवृतो राजा शुशुभे5तीव कौरव: । बिश्रद् बाह्ीं श्रियं दीप्तां देवेरिव बृहस्पति:,उनसे घिरे हुए कुरुवंशी राजा धृतराष्ट्र वैसी ही शोभा पा रहे थे, जैसे उज्ज्वल ब्रह्मतेज धारण करनेवाले बृहस्पति देवताओंसे घिरे हुए सुशोभित होते हैं
bhīmasenādayaḥ pāṇḍavā api rājñaḥ caraṇau spṛṣṭvā praṇamya ca tasya ājñayā niṣeduḥ | sa taiḥ parivṛto rājā śuśubhe ’tīva kauravaḥ | viśradbāhūḥ śriyaṃ dīptāṃ deveṣv iva bṛhaspatiḥ ||
भीमसेनादयः पाण्डवा राज्ञः पादौ स्पृष्ट्वा प्रणम्य च तदाज्ञया निषेदुः। तैः परिवृतो राजा धृतराष्ट्रः कौरवोऽतीव शुशुभे, विश्रब्धबाहुः श्रीमान् दीप्ततेजाः सुरैरिव बृहस्पतिः॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma expressed as reverence and restraint: even after enmity and war, the Pāṇḍavas uphold proper conduct by honoring an elder king, showing that ethical order is maintained through humility and respect.
Bhīma and the other Pāṇḍavas bow to Dhṛtarāṣṭra by touching his feet and then sit with his permission. Dhṛtarāṣṭra, encircled by them, appears majestic—compared to Bṛhaspati shining among the gods.