Shloka 26
धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनप्रस्थानानुज्ञा | Permission for Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Forest-Retirement
स चापि पालयामास यथावत् तच्च वेत्थ ह । उनके बाद मेरे भाई पाण्डुने इस राज्यका यथावत्रूपसे पालन किया। इसे आप सब लोग जानते हैं। अपने प्रजापालनरूपी गुणके कारण ही वे आपलोगोंके परम प्रिय हो गये थे
sa cāpi pālayāmāsa yathāvat tac ca vettha ha |
毗舍婆耶那说道：“在他之后，我的兄长般度（Pāṇḍu）也以正法之道治理此国——此事你们众人皆知。正因他以护民爱民之德行著称，他才成为你们所有人极其敬爱之人。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights rājadharma: a king’s legitimacy and belovedness arise from yathāvat rule—especially prajā-pālana, the active protection and welfare of the people. Ethical governance is presented as a primary royal virtue.
Vaiśampāyana, narrating the lineage and conduct of rulers, notes that Pāṇḍu (after the previous ruler) administered the kingdom properly. The narrator emphasizes that the people’s affection for him came from his exemplary care for his subjects.