Shloka 2
मान्धातृ-जन्म-चरितम्
The Birth and Career Account of Māndhātṛ
कथं चैनां परां काष्ठां प्राप्तवानमितद्युति: । यस्य लोकास्त्रयो वश्या विष्णोरिव महात्मन:,अमित तेजस्वी मान्धाताने यह सर्वोच्च स्थिति कैसे प्राप्त कर ली थी? सुना है, परमात्मा विष्णुके समान महाराज मान्धाताके वशमें तीनों लोक थे
kathaṃ caināṃ parāṃ kāṣṭhāṃ prāptavān amitadyutiḥ | yasya lokās trayo vaśyā viṣṇor iva mahātmanaḥ ||
“แล้วผู้มีรัศมีหาประมาณมิได้นั้น ได้บรรลุถึงยอดสูงสุดแห่งความยิ่งใหญ่อย่างไร? ข้าพเจ้าได้ยินว่า สามโลกอยู่ในอำนาจของพระองค์ ดุจอยู่ในอำนาจแห่งพระวิษณุผู้มหาตมัน—ด้วยเหตุใดจึงเป็นเช่นนั้น?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry into the sources of supreme royal success: true greatness is not merely power, but an attainment that invites explanation in terms of dharma, merit, and right conduct—so extraordinary that it is compared to Viṣṇu’s cosmic sovereignty.
Yudhiṣṭhira asks how King Māndhātṛ—described as radiant and great-souled—reached the highest pinnacle of status, with the three worlds under his sway, likened to the dominion of Viṣṇu. The question introduces a forthcoming account of Māndhātṛ’s deeds and the causes of his eminence.