Shloka 38
अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)
दिष्ट्या पश्यामि राजेन्द्र धर्मात्मानं सहानुगम् । निस्तीर्ण दुष्करं राजंस्त्वां धर्मनिचयं प्रभो
diṣṭyā paśyāmi rājendra dharmātmānaṃ sahānugam | nistīrṇaṃ duṣkaraṃ rājan tvāṃ dharmanidhayaṃ prabho ||
“Sa mabuting kapalaran, namamasdan ko ikaw, O pinakamainam sa mga hari—matuwid ang diwa at kasama ang iyong mga tagasunod. Nalampasan mo ang mahirap lampasan; O hari, O panginoon, ikaw ay isang tunay na kayamanan ng dharma. Ang makita ka ngayon, matapos mong tuparin kasama ng iyong mga kapatid ang mabigat na panatang iyon, ay tunay na pagpapala sa akin.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds dharma as a king’s defining wealth: true royal excellence is measured by righteous character and the successful completion of difficult vows or duties, especially when done responsibly with one’s companions.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a king with reverence, expressing joy at seeing him safely after he has completed a hard undertaking (described as ‘crossing the difficult’), praising him as dharmātmā and a repository of dharma, accompanied by his followers.