Shloka 62
वैशम्पायन उवाच स पुत्रस्य वच: श्रुत्वा विराटो राष्ट्रवर्धन: । क्षमयामास कौन्तेयं भस्मच्छन्नमिवानलम्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--राजन! पुत्रकी यह बात सुनकर अपने राष्ट्रकी वृद्धि करनेवाले महाराज विराटने राखमें छिपी हुई अग्निकी भाँति तेजस्वी कुन्तीनन्दन युधिष्ठिरसे क्षमा माँगी
vaiśampāyana uvāca | sa putrasya vacaḥ śrutvā virāṭo rāṣṭravardhanaḥ | kṣamayāmāsa kaunteyaṃ bhasmacchannam ivānalam ||
毗湿摩耶那说道：毗罗吒王——以增益国土而著称者——听了儿子的话，便向昆蒂之子尤提士提罗求恕；他虽外表隐蔽，内在威光却如灰下之火般炽然。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True authority is strengthened by humility: when a ruler recognizes concealed excellence and admits fault, he upholds dharma. The metaphor of fire under ashes teaches that virtue and power may be hidden by disguise or circumstance, yet remain real and worthy of respect.
After hearing his son’s statement, King Virāṭa realizes the true stature of the Kuntī-born Yudhiṣṭhira (living incognito) and seeks his pardon, acknowledging that Yudhiṣṭhira’s brilliance was present though outwardly concealed.