Shloka 12
धृतराष्ट्रोपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Instruction on Rājadharma and Bala
इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत आश्रमवासिकपर्वके अन्तर्गत आश्रमवासपर्वमें युधिष्ठिरका अनुमोदनविषयक बारहवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,दीनान्धकृपणेभ्यश्व तत्र तत्र नृपाज्ञया “विदुरजी! आप राजा धृतराष्ट्रकी आज्ञासे दीनों, अन्धों और कंगालोंके लिये भिन्न-भिन्न स्थानोंमें प्रचुर अन्न, रस और पीनेयोग्य पदार्थोंसे भरी हुई अनेक धर्मशालाएँ बनवाइये तथा गौओंके पानी पीनेके लिये बहुत-से पौंसलोंका निर्माण कीजिये। साथ ही दूसरे भी विविध प्रकारके पुण्य कीजिये
iti prakāraṃ śrīmahābhārate āśramavāsikaparvaṇi antargate āśramavāsaparvaṇi yudhiṣṭhirasyānumodanaviṣayakaḥ dvādaśo 'dhyāyaḥ samāptaḥ | dīnāndhakṛpaṇebhyaś ca tatra tatra nṛpājñayā—“vidura-jī! tvaṃ rājā dhṛtarāṣṭrasya ājñayā dīnānām andhānāṃ ca kangālānām ca kṛte bhinna-bhinneṣu sthāneṣu pracurānna-rasa-pānīyadravyaiḥ paripūrṇāḥ anekā dharmaśālāḥ kārayāhi, gāvaḥ pānārthaṃ bahūn pausalānāṃ nirmāṇaṃ ca kārayāhi; saha anyān api vividhān puṇyaprakārān ācara.”
Thus, in the Śrī Mahābhārata, within the Āśramavāsika Parva, the twelfth chapter of the Āśramavāsa section—concerning Yudhiṣṭhira’s assent—comes to an end. And, by the king’s command in various places for the benefit of the poor, the blind, and the destitute, Vidura is instructed: “By King Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s order, arrange for many charitable rest-houses to be built—well supplied with abundant food, nourishing drinks, and potable water—for the needy in different locations. Also construct numerous watering-troughs for cattle, and undertake other diverse acts of merit as well.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Kingship and dharma are expressed through public welfare: providing food, drinkable water, shelter, and care for vulnerable people (the poor, blind, destitute) and even for animals. Merit (puṇya) is pursued not merely through ritual but through compassionate, organized service.
At the close of the chapter, the narrator notes its completion and reports a royal directive: Vidura, acting under Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s command, is to establish well-provisioned charitable rest-houses in various places and to build watering facilities for cattle, along with other meritorious works—framing the elders’ forest-retirement period with acts of public good.