Shloka 13
राजधर्मः—राष्ट्ररक्षणं, दण्डनीतिः, हयग्रीवोपाख्यानम्
Royal Duty: Protection, Penal Policy, and the Hayagrīva Exemplum
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । गीत॑ राज्ञा सेनजिता दुः:खार्तेन युधिष्ठिर
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | gītaṃ rājñā senajitā duḥkhārtena yudhiṣṭhira ||
Dito rin, O Yudhiṣṭhira, binabanggit ng mga tao ang isang sinaunang halimbawa mula sa kasaysayan. Isasalaysay ko sa iyo ang mga salitang minsang sinabi ni Haring Senajit nang siya’y pinighati ng dalamhati—isang halimbawang inihaharap upang liwanagin ang bagay na ito.
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.