Shloka 13
राजधर्मः—राष्ट्ररक्षणं, दण्डनीतिः, हयग्रीवोपाख्यानम्
Royal Duty: Protection, Penal Policy, and the Hayagrīva Exemplum
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । गीत॑ राज्ञा सेनजिता दुः:खार्तेन युधिष्ठिर,युधिष्ठिर! इस विषयमें लोग एक प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया करते हैं। एक समय शोकसे आतुर हुए राजा सेनजितने जो उद्बार प्रकट किया था, वही तुम्हें सुना रहा हूँ
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | gītaṃ rājñā senajitā duḥkhārtena yudhiṣṭhira ||
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। गीतं राज्ञा सेनजिता दुःखार्तेन युधिष्ठिर॥
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vyāsa frames the instruction through an ‘itihāsa’ (exemplary ancient narrative), implying that ethical clarity in times of sorrow is best conveyed via precedent: a remembered case where a grief-stricken king’s words become a lesson for dharma and right understanding.
Vyāsa addresses Yudhiṣṭhira and announces that he will recount an old illustrative story. He introduces King Senajit, noting that Senajit once spoke while overwhelmed by grief, and that this utterance is traditionally cited as an example relevant to the present discussion.