Shloka 20
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
मैंने वसुदेवनन्दन भगवान् श्रीकृष्णकी अर्थभरी बातें नहीं सुनी। मनीषी पुरुषोंने मुझे यह हितकी बात बतायी थी कि इस खोटी बुद्धिवाले पापी दुर्योधनको मन्त्रियोंसहित मार डाला जाय, इसीमें संसारका हित है; किंतु पुत्रस्नेहके वशीभूत होकर मैंने ऐसा नहीं किया ।।
vidureṇātha bhīṣmeṇa droṇena ca kṛpeṇa ca | pade pade bhagavatā vyāsena ca mahātmanā ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Again and again I was counseled—by Vidura, by Bhīṣma, by Droṇa, by Kṛpa, and at every step by the blessed great-souled Vyāsa. Yet I did not truly heed those weighty words of right conduct. The wise had told me what was beneficial for the world: that the sinful Duryodhana, of perverse understanding, should be slain along with his ministers—this alone would serve the common good. But overcome by attachment to my son, I did not do so.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even repeated guidance from wise elders is fruitless if a ruler is ruled by attachment. Dhṛtarāṣṭra recognizes that personal affection (putra-sneha) can eclipse dharma and public welfare, leading to catastrophic outcomes.
In the Āśramavāsika context, Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects on past failures: despite continual counsel from Vidura, Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa, and Vyāsa, he did not restrain or remove Duryodhana. He frames this as a moral lapse driven by paternal attachment.