Shloka 30
अर्जुनदुःखहेतुप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the cause of Arjuna’s recurring hardship
Book 14, Chapter 89
गत्वा त्ववभृथं राजा विपाप्मा भ्रातृभि: सह । सभाज्यमान: शुशुभे महेन्द्रस्त्रिदशैरिव
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
gatvā tv avabhṛthaṃ rājā vipāpmā bhrātṛbhiḥ saha |
sabhājyamānaḥ śuśubhe mahendraḥ tridāśair iva ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Nang magtungo ang hari sa avabhṛtha—ang pangwakas na paliligo ng sakripisyo—siya’y nalinis at naging walang bahid ng kasalanan. Pinarangalan at ipinagdiwang kasama ng kanyang mga kapatid, nagningning si Yudhiṣṭhira sa karilagan—gaya ni dakilang Indra na maningning kapag sinasamba ng mga diyos.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Completion of a righteous sacrifice culminates in avabhṛtha purification, symbolizing the restoration of moral order; true royal splendour arises from dharmic conduct and the honour of one’s community (here, the brothers), not from power alone.
After the Aśvamedha’s concluding avabhṛtha bath, Yudhiṣṭhira is described as purified and radiant, being honoured by his brothers; the poet likens his splendour to Indra being revered by the gods.