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Shloka 6

धृतराष्ट्रस्य स्पर्शाभिलाषः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Request for Touch and Permission for Tapas

इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत आश्रमवासिकपवके अन्तर्गत आश्रमवासपर्वमें धृतराष्रका उपदेशविषयक छठा अध्याय पूरा हुआ

utsāha-prabhu-śaktibhyāṁ mantra-śaktyā ca bhārata | upapanno nṛpo yāyād viparītaṁ ca varjayet ||

Dhṛtarāṣṭra lehrt, dass ein König einen Angriff nur dann beginnen soll, wenn er den Feind in drei Stützen der Macht überragt: in persönlicher Tatkraft und Entschlossenheit, in souveränen Mitteln und Autorität, und in der strategischen Stärke von Rat und Politik. Fehlen diese Vorteile, soll er selbst den Gedanken an den Angriff aufgeben; denn Handeln ohne hinreichende Kraft und Leitung führt ins Verderben und widerspricht kluger Königsherrschaft.

utsāha-prabhu-śaktibhyāmby (means of) enthusiasm and lordly power
utsāha-prabhu-śaktibhyām:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootutsāha + prabhuśakti
Formfeminine, instrumental, dual
mantra-śaktyāby counsel/strategy power
mantra-śaktyā:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootmantraśakti
Formfeminine, instrumental, singular
caand
ca:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca
bhārataO Bhārata
bhārata:
TypeNoun
Rootbhārata
Formmasculine, vocative, singular
upapannaḥendowed, possessed (of)
upapannaḥ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootupapanna
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
nṛpaḥthe king
nṛpaḥ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootnṛpa
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
yāyātshould go/should march (to attack)
yāyāt:
TypeVerb
Rootyā (dhātu)
Formoptative (vidhiliṅ), 3rd, singular, parasmaipada
viparītamthe opposite (condition)
viparītam:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootviparīta
Formneuter, accusative, singular
caand
ca:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca
varjayetshould avoid/should refrain from
varjayet:
TypeVerb
Rootvṛj/varj (dhātu)
Formoptative (vidhiliṅ), 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

धघतयाट्र उवाच

D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra
B
Bhārata (addressee)

Educational Q&A

A ruler should wage war only when he has superior (1) personal resolve and initiative (utsāha), (2) sovereign resources and authority (prabhu-śakti), and (3) strategic counsel and policy (mantra-śakti). If these are lacking, restraint is the ethical and prudent course.

In the Ashramavāsika context, Dhṛtarāṣṭra delivers counsel on kingship and conduct, emphasizing measured decision-making in warfare: attack only from a position of clear strength and sound counsel, otherwise avoid aggression.