Shloka 56
Āśvamedhika-parva, Adhyāya 14
Consolation of Yudhiṣṭhira; Rites and Gifts; Return to Hastināpura
अन्वशासच्च धर्मात्मा पृथिवीं सागराम्बराम् । तदनन्तर राजा युधिष्ठिरने देवताओं और ब्राह्मणोंका पूजन किया और मरे हुए बन्धु- बान्धवोंका श्राद्ध करके वे धर्मात्मा नरेश समुद्रपर्यन्त पृथ्वीका शासन करने लगे
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: anvāśāsac ca dharmātmā pṛthivīṃ sāgarāmbarām | tad-anantaraṃ rājā yudhiṣṭhirena devatā-brāhmaṇānāṃ pūjanaṃ kṛtam, mṛtānāṃ bandhu-bāndhavānāṃ śrāddhaṃ ca kṛtvā sa dharmātmā nareśaḥ samudra-paryantāṃ pṛthivīṃ śāsituṃ pracakrame |
外沙姆帕耶那说道：于是那位具德之王统御大地，疆界直抵大海。其后，尤提施提罗王礼敬诸天与婆罗门，并为亡故的亲族眷属如法举行施罗陀（śrāddha）祭仪。此位奉达摩而治的君主，遂开始治理延及四海的国土，以敬畏、感恩与合法王道，在战乱的摧残后重建秩序。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights rajadharma: a king’s legitimacy and stability arise from dharmic governance joined with reverence for the sacred (deities and Brāhmaṇas) and responsibility toward the dead through śrāddha. Political order is shown as inseparable from ethical duty, gratitude, and ritual obligations.
After the war, Yudhiṣṭhira performs worship and honors Brāhmaṇas, then conducts śrāddha rites for deceased relatives. Having completed these duties, he begins ruling the ocean-bounded earth, signaling the restoration of lawful kingship and social-religious order.