Shloka 17
Hiḍimbā’s Account and the Bhīma–Hiḍimba Engagement (आदि पर्व, अध्याय १४२)
न च भीष्मो न च द्रोणो न च क्षत्ता न गौतम: । विवास्यमानान् कौन्तेयाननुमंस्यन्ति कहिचित्,मुझे यह भी विश्वास है कि भीष्म, द्रोण, विदुर और कृपाचार्य--इनमेंसे कोई भी कुन्तीपुत्रोंको यहाँसे अन्यत्र भेजे जानेकी कदापि अनुमति नहीं देंगे
na ca bhīṣmo na ca droṇo na ca kṣattā na gautamaḥ | vivāsyamānān kaunteyān anumasyanti kadācit ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Neither Bhīṣma nor Droṇa, nor Vidura the chamberlain, nor Gautama (Kṛpa) will ever consent to the Pāṇḍavas—the sons of Kuntī—being driven away from here to some other place.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the restraining force of dharma within the royal court: respected elders and guardians (Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Vidura, Kṛpa) are expected to prevent unjust expulsion of rightful princes, emphasizing moral oversight over political schemes.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra expresses confidence that key elders and advisers will not allow the Pāṇḍavas to be sent away or banished from the Kuru court, implying that any attempt to remove them would face principled opposition from these authoritative figures.