Shloka 82
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
दृष्टवा कृशं विवर्ण च राजानमतथोचितम् । उपवासपरिश्रान्तं त्वगस्थिपरिवारणम्,अपने ताऊ महाप्रभु राजा धृतराष्ट्रको इस प्रकार उपवास करनेके कारण थके हुए, दुर्बल, कान्तिहीन, अस्थिचर्मावशिष्ट और अयोग्य अवस्थामें स्थित देख धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिर क्षोभजनित आँसू बहाते हुए उनसे इस प्रकार बोले--
dṛṣṭvā kṛśaṁ vivarṇaṁ ca rājānam atathocitam | upavāsa-pariśrāntaṁ tvag-asthi-parivāraṇam ||
ولمّا رأى يُدْهِشْتِهيرا، ابنَ الدَّرْمَا، الملكَ دْهريتاراشترا وقد غدا هزيلاً شاحباً، أنهكه الصوم، ولم يبقَ منه إلا الجلدُ على العظم، وفي حالٍ لا تليق بمقام الملوك—غلبه الأسى، وانهمرت دموعُه من لوعةٍ، وخاطبه بهذه الكلمات.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic sensitivity: even after conflict and political change, one should respond to an elder’s suffering with compassion and moral concern. It also contrasts royal dignity with the harshness of extreme austerity, raising an ethical question about what is ‘proper’ (ucita) in renunciation.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira sees the aged King Dhṛtarāṣṭra weakened by fasting—thin, pale, and reduced to skin and bone. Moved to tears, Yudhiṣṭhira begins to speak to him, setting up the ensuing dialogue about his condition and conduct in the forest life.