Shloka 65
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
धिगस्तु मामधर्मज्ञं धिग्॒ बुद्धि धिक् च मे श्रुतम् यत्कृते पृथिवीपाल: शेतेडयमतथोचित:
dhig astu mām adharmajñaṃ dhig buddhiṃ dhik ca me śrutam | yatkṛte pṛthivīpālaḥ śete ’yam atathocitaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Shame upon me, who failed to understand dharma! Shame upon my intellect, and shame upon my learning as well—for because of me this king, the protector of the earth, now lies in a condition unworthy of him.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights moral accountability: mere intelligence or learning is hollow if it fails to guide one toward dharma. Recognizing one’s lapse and taking responsibility—especially when it harms a worthy person (a king)—is presented as an ethical awakening.
The speaker expresses intense remorse, blaming himself for a situation in which the king (pṛthivīpāla) is lying in an unbefitting state. The tone is penitential, emphasizing that the speaker’s failure in dharma and judgment has contributed to the king’s present distress.