अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)
“महाराज! नरेश्वर! तुम्हें लोकतन्त्रका सम्यक् ज्ञान है। तात! इसीलिये तुममें लोभजनित कोई भी बर्ताव नहीं है ।।
mahārāja! nareśvara! tubhyaṁ lokatantrasya samyak jñānam asti. tāta! tasmāt tvayi lobhajanitaḥ kaścid api vyavahāro nāsti. rājārṣīṇāṁ purāṇānāṁ mārgam anviccha bhārata. dāne tapasi satye ca bhava tāta yudhiṣṭhira.
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “O dakilang hari, O panginoon ng mga tao, taglay mo ang ganap na pagkaunawa sa mga simulain ng pamamahala at kaayusang panlipunan. Kaya, mahal kong anak, walang anumang asal na isinilang sa kasakiman ang masusumpungan sa iyo. O Bhārata, sundan mo ang landas ng mga sinaunang rajarṣi. Mahal na Yudhiṣṭhira, manatili kang laging nakatuon sa pagkakawanggawa, pag-aayuno at pagninilay (tapas), at katotohanan.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
A ruler should model himself on the ancient king-sages and remain free from greed, grounding governance in the triad of dāna (generosity), tapas (disciplined restraint), and satya (truth).
Vaiśampāyana praises Yudhiṣṭhira’s understanding of polity and his lack of greed, then exhorts him to follow the exemplary conduct of earlier royal seers by steadfastly practicing charity, austerity, and truthfulness.