Shloka 56
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
धृतराष्ट उवाच तापस्ये मे मनस्तात वर्तते कुरुनन्दन । उचितं च कुले5स्माकमरण्यगमन प्रभो
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | tāpasye me manas tāta vartate kurunandana | ucitaṃ ca kule 'smākam araṇyagamanaṃ prabho ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “My dear son, O joy of the Kurus, my mind is now set upon ascetic practice. O lord, for one in the final stage of life, going to the forest is also fitting for our lineage.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse affirms āśrama-dharma: in the later stage of life, turning the mind toward tapas and withdrawing to the forest (vānaprastha) is considered appropriate, especially for a royal lineage that upholds traditional duties.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra declares his resolve to pursue austerity and to depart for the forest, presenting it as both his personal inclination and a fitting course for the Kuru family in life’s final phase.