Shloka 41
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
युधिछिर उवाच नमां प्रीणयते राज्यं त्वय्येवं दु:खिते नृप । धिड्मामस्तु सुदुर्बुद्धि राज्यसक्तं प्रमादिनम्
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca
na māṃ prīṇayate rājyaṃ tvayy evaṃ duḥkhite nṛpa |
dhiṅ mām astu sudurbuddhiṃ rājyasaktaṃ pramādinam ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O king, this kingdom gives me no joy, since you were suffering here in this way and I did not even know it. Fie upon me—how wretched my judgment has been! Let there be condemnation of one like me, careless and clinging to sovereignty.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Attachment to power (rājya) and negligence (pramāda) are ethical failures; true dharma requires vigilant care for elders and accountability, even when one holds legitimate sovereignty.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses the king (nṛpa) with grief and shame, saying the kingdom cannot please him because the king was suffering without Yudhiṣṭhira’s knowledge; he condemns his own heedlessness and attachment to rule.