In the royal city of Indraprastha, King Dharmaja, eldest of the Pandavas, ruled with a hand at once firm and gentle. To the scholars of every Vedic branch, he offered worship and generous gifts, so that the sacred schools flourished and the teachers, priests, and sages found in him a sovereign of rare balance. Vassal lords and loyal allies poured forth their admiration, bringing silks and gold, jewels and silver, elephants and horses, chariots and faithful servants. The exchequer overflowed with wealth, and the land beneath his sceptre knew stability and peace. Agriculture, herds, and all the means of livelihood prospered, for the shadow of unrest was unknown. Dharma, like a pillar of perfect balance, upheld harmony in every sphere.
Sages of ancient renown—Subala, Markandeya, Sunaka, Maunjayana, and Mandavya—came to behold the marvel of the Mayasabha, whose splendor drew their wonder, and they carried word of it to the hermits of Naimisaranya. There, Ugrasravasa told how Yudhishthira, with a reverent heart, worshipped those holy men and sought their blessing, while he listened to their tales of distant lands and the subtle laws of kingship and society. The Pandavas dwelt in comfort, faithful to the high principles of their race.
One day, as though the sun itself had descended from the heavens, the divine sage Narada appeared unexpectedly in that wondrous hall, which rivaled the very court of the gods. A retinue of sages followed him, eager for his discourse, yet he dismissed them on gentle pretext and came attended only by Parvata, Parijata, Raivata, and Sunuka. Dharmaja, with his brothers and the assembled Brahmins, welcomed the celestial visitor, offered him a seat of honour, and worshipped him with pious rites.
Narada, radiant and serene, enquired after the welfare of the Pandavas and then addressed Yudhishthira with grave counsel. “O scion of the Bharatas,” he began, “in the care of a kingdom lies the weaving of mortal and immortal ends. Wealth and desire bind men to this fleeting world; dharma and moksha lead beyond it. He who moves through wealth and desire under the rule of dharma may hope to reach liberation. Therefore, set thy mind first on dharma, and let every action be bound to it. When the duties of the day are done and the mind is free from distraction, ponder these matters in the stillness of midnight, when the soul is most clear to judge.
“Have you appointed the right men to the right charge, and do you tend them well? Are those whom you trust free from selfish motive, steadfast in character and proven in loyalty? Do you reward the worthy and discern their strength to endure? Are your ministers chosen for knowledge, experience, noble lineage, and tested service? Do you examine their work and keep your counsel guarded, sharing with none the secrets that must be held close, lest public speculation undo the very spirit of your plans?
“Is your high priest fearless in pleading the just cause, pure in conduct, and deeply versed in the ancient Vedic lore? Is he gentle and yet firm, patient in teaching the meaning of the rites, and unshaken in the discipline of sacred observance? Is the chief sacrifice of your yagas honest and devout, faithful to the code of the Vedas, for a single distortion of ritual casts a shadow on the realm? Have you set over your armies a commander of strength and loyalty, one who knows the lands and the borders of friend and foe, able to weigh their power and weakness and to judge their allegiance? Is recruitment founded on open merit rather than mere favour?
“Know, O King, that the active and clever minister, if corrupt, is more perilous than the indolent. Wealth breeds pride and greed, twin wolves ever hungry; keep them in check. Are your astrologers sound in their science, uncorrupted by vanity, and do they read truly the bond between man and heaven, earth and sky? Do they warn of flood and drought and guide the people to safety, keeping the sacred times pure? Have you appointed physicians and healers to relieve the people’s pain in every branch of the art—surgery, internal medicine, care of children, treatment of poisons, the science of rejuvenation and long life, the balancing of mind and spirit? These, ordained by Brahma, the Ashvins and Dhanvantari, must be maintained in purity, and selfish healers must be restrained. Let the king himself be examined, that body, mind and soul remain in harmony.
“Is your treasury guarded with honesty? Are the collectors of revenue faithful and just? One act of corruption can tarnish the glory of a ruler. Do you pay the servants of the state promptly, and inquire into their family needs, giving aid when necessity calls? For even Indra himself is bound to trouble if he withholds the wages of those who serve him. Do you cherish the families of soldiers who have fallen in battle? This is no favour but the sacred duty of a king. Admit not misers, thieves or the wicked to the service of the crown. Provide care for the weak and the maimed; comfort the sorrowful, even the erring, with gentle hope. The true ruler must discern between good and evil, right and wrong, fair and foul, and give each his due.
“Thus, must a king walk the path of dharma. Wealth and power are but means; righteousness alone endures.”
So spoke Narada, the son of Brahma, knower of the worlds and of the hidden ways of men and gods. His words, like a river of wisdom, traced for Yudhishthira the very charter of just governance and the eternal measure of a ruler’s soul.
