Shloka 18
धृतराष्ट्रस्य स्पर्शाभिलाषः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Request for Touch and Permission for Tapas
सर्वथैव महाराज शरीरं धारयेदिह । प्रेत्य चेह च कर्तव्यमात्मनि:श्रेयसं परम्
sarvathaiva mahārāja śarīraṃ dhārayediha | pretya ceha ca kartavyam ātmaniḥśreyasaṃ param ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra sprach: „O großer König, mit allen nur möglichen Mitteln soll man hier den Körper erhalten und schützen. Und durch ihn soll man das tun, was zum höchsten Heil des Selbst zu tun ist – sowohl in dieser Welt als auch nach dem Tod.“
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that preserving the body is not an end in itself but a support for dharmic effort: one should maintain bodily life so that one can pursue the highest good (niḥśreyasa), securing welfare both in this life and beyond.
In the Āśramavāsika context, Dhṛtarāṣṭra speaks reflectively about right conduct in the later stage of life, emphasizing disciplined self-maintenance and purposeful action aimed at ultimate spiritual welfare rather than mere survival.