Jarītā-Śārṅgaka-saṃvādaḥ — The Dialogue of Jaritā and the Śārṅgaka Chicks
Fire-escape deliberation
आश्रित्य धर्मराजानं सर्वलोको5वसत् सुखम् । पुण्यलक्षणकर्माणं स्वदेहमिव देहिन:
āśritya dharmarājānaṃ sarvaloko ’vasat sukham | puṇyalakṣaṇakarmāṇaṃ svadeham iva dehinaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Nương tựa nơi Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, muôn dân đều sống an vui—tựa như một hữu tình, nhờ quả báo của công đức mà được thân thể tốt đẹp, rồi an trú trong hạnh phúc.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse teaches that a ruler grounded in dharma becomes a true refuge for society: when people rely on a righteous king, collective well-being follows. It also links happiness to puṇya—ethical action bears fruit, just as merit yields a favorable embodiment and consequent ease.
Vaiśampāyana describes a period under Yudhiṣṭhira’s protection in which the populace lives peacefully and happily. The narrator uses a simile: as an individual enjoys a good body obtained through meritorious deeds, so the people enjoy comfort by depending on Dharmarāja.