Shloka 383
Vyāsa’s Boon-Offer and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse in the Forest Assembly (आश्रमवासिक पर्व, अध्याय ३६)
प्राप्तवानग्निसंयोगं गान्धारी जननी च ते । राजेन्द्र! राजा धृतराष्ट्र गान्धारी और तुम्हारी माता कुन्ती--तीनोंने स्वतः अग्निसंयोग प्राप्त किया था; अतः उनके लिये तुम्हें शोक नहीं करना चाहिये
prāptavān agnisaṃyogaṃ gāndhārī jananī ca te | rājendra! rājā dhṛtarāṣṭra gāndhārī ca tava mātā kuntī—trayo 'pi svataḥ agnisaṃyogaṃ prāptāḥ; ataḥ teṣāṃ kṛte tvaṃ śokaṃ na kartum arhasi ||
Nārada said: “Gāndhārī and your mother have attained union with fire. O best of kings, King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Gāndhārī, and your mother Kuntī—these three entered the fire of their own accord. Therefore you should not grieve for them.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches restraint in grief by recognizing voluntary, dharmic acceptance of death and the inevitability of impermanence. When elders choose renunciation and meet death without coercion, the living are urged to honor that resolve rather than be overwhelmed by sorrow.
Nārada informs the king that Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Gāndhārī, and Kuntī met their end by entering (or being united with) fire in the forest, and emphasizes that it was by their own choice; therefore the listener should not mourn them as victims of misfortune.