Shloka 393
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पश्चात्तापः तथा वनप्रस्थानानुज्ञा | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse and Request for Forest-Retirement
शूर: क्लेशसहश्नैव हितो भक्तश्न पूरुष: । “तात! तुम्हारे सेनापतिको दृढ़प्रतिज्ञ, शूरवीर, क्लेश सह सकनेवाला, हितैषी, पुरुषार्थी और स्वामिभक्त होना चाहिये
śūraḥ kleśa-sahaś caiva hito bhaktaś ca pūruṣaḥ |
Vaiśampāyana said: “A commander should be a hero—able to endure hardships—well-wishing, energetic in manly effort, and devoted to his lord.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse outlines the ethical qualifications of a senāpati (commander): courage, endurance of hardship, benevolence toward others, energetic initiative, and loyal devotion to the rightful lord—virtues that make power serve dharma rather than ego.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a normative instruction is given about the kind of person fit to lead an army—describing the ideal traits expected of a commander within the broader post-war moral reflection of the Āśramavāsika Parva.