Shloka 126
धृतराष्ट्र-सत्कारः तथा श्राद्ध-दाने नियमनम् | Honoring Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Regulating Śrāddha-Gifts
आनृण्यमगमत् कामान् विदप्रेभ्य: प्रतिपाद्य सा | गान्धारी देवीने भी अपने पुत्रोंके निमित्त नाना प्रकारके श्राद्धकर्मका अनुष्ठान करके ब्राह्मणोंको उनकी इच्छाके अनुसार धन दान किया और ऐसा करके वे पुत्रोंके ऋणसे मुक्त हो गयीं
ānṛṇyam agamat kāmān vidaprebhyaḥ pratipādya sā | gāndhārī devī naiva bhīṣṭa-putrān nimittaṃ nānā-vidha-śrāddha-karmāṇy anuṣṭhāya brāhmaṇebhyaḥ sva-icchānusāreṇa dhanaṃ dattavatyā ca putra-ṛṇāt muktaivābhavat |
Vaiśampāyana said: Having satisfied the Brahmins according to their wishes, she attained freedom from debt. Queen Gāndhārī, performing many kinds of śrāddha rites for the sake of her sons, gave wealth in charity to the Brahmins as they desired; and by this she became released from the obligation owed to her sons.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma in mourning: honoring the departed through śrāddha and supporting Brahmins through appropriate dāna. By performing prescribed rites and giving generously, one discharges familial obligations (ṛṇa) and acts in accordance with ethical duty.
After the deaths of her sons, Queen Gāndhārī undertakes various śrāddha ceremonies on their behalf and gives wealth to Brahmins as they wish. Through these acts she is described as attaining ‘ānṛṇya’—release from the obligation connected with her sons.