Shloka 256
धृतराष्ट्रस्य सत्कारः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra Honored in the Post-war Court
इति तानन्वशादू् भ्रातृम् नित्यमेव युधिष्ठिर: । राजा युधिष्ठिर सदा भाइयोंको यह उपदेश देते थे कि “बन्धुओ! तुम ऐसा बर्ताव करो
iti tān anvaśād bhrātṝn nityam eva yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ sadā (bhrātṝn) upadiśati sma— “bandhavo! yūyam evaṃ vartadhvaṃ, yena putrair vibhaktaḥ sa rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ kiñcinmātram api duḥkhaṃ na prāpnuyāt” |
Thus Yudhiṣṭhira continually instructed his brothers. King Yudhiṣṭhira would always counsel them: “Kinsmen, conduct yourselves in such a way that King Dhṛtarāṣṭra—bereft of his sons—may not suffer even the slightest sorrow.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Yudhiṣṭhira teaches compassionate dharma: even toward a former rival, one should act so as to minimize an elder’s suffering—especially when that elder has already been devastated by the loss of his children.
Vaiśampāyana reports that Yudhiṣṭhira repeatedly instructs his brothers to behave considerately toward Dhṛtarāṣṭra, ensuring that the bereaved king does not experience further pain while living among them in the post-war period.