Shloka 5
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Śrāddha Request and Bhīma’s Objection (Āśramavāsika-parva, Adhyāya 17)
तब महातेजस्वी अम्बिकानन्दन धृतराष्ट्रने गान्धारी और विदुरको सम्बोधित करके उनका हाथ पकड़कर कहा-- ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tadā mahātejā aṁbikānandano dhṛtarāṣṭro gāndhārīṁ ca viduraṁ ca sambodhyātha teṣāṁ hastaṁ gṛhītvā uvāca— yudhiṣṭhirasya jananī devī sādhū nivartyatām | yathā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ prāha tat sarvaṁ satyam eva hi |
Vaiśampāyana said: Then the mighty Dhṛtarāṣṭra, son of Ambikā, addressed Gāndhārī and Vidura, and taking them by the hand, said: “Let the goddess Kuntī, the mother of Yudhiṣṭhira, be gently persuaded to turn back. For what Yudhiṣṭhira has said is entirely true.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes ethical deference to truth and rightful counsel: Dhṛtarāṣṭra affirms that Yudhiṣṭhira’s words are true and urges a gentle, proper approach (sādhu) in persuading Kuntī—showing that even in emotionally charged family decisions, one should act with truthfulness and considerate speech.
In the context of the Āśramavāsika episode, Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses Gāndhārī and Vidura, physically taking their hands in a gesture of urgency and intimacy, and asks them to persuade Kuntī (Yudhiṣṭhira’s mother) to return, while explicitly endorsing Yudhiṣṭhira’s statement as wholly true.