Shloka 9
तमेवंवादिनं राजा सूतपुत्रं कृताउ्जलिम् । सुदीर्घमथ नि:श्वस्य दुःखार्त इदमब्रवीत्,हाथ जोड़कर ऐसी बातें कहनेवाले सूतपुत्र संजयसे दुःखातुर राजा धृतराष्ट्रने लंबी साँस खींचकर इस प्रकार कहा
tam evaṁ-vādinaṁ rājā sūtaputraṁ kṛtāñjalim | sudīrgham atha niḥśvasya duḥkhārta idam abravīt ||
Vaishampayana said: Hearing Sanjaya—the charioteer’s son—speak in this manner, and seeing him with folded hands, King Dhritarashtra, overwhelmed by sorrow, heaved a long sigh and then spoke these words.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of leadership and attachment: Dhritarashtra’s deep sigh and grief signal an inner reckoning with the consequences of partiality and the unfolding destruction of war.
Vaishampayana narrates that after Sanjaya speaks respectfully with folded hands, Dhritarashtra—stricken with sorrow—takes a long, heavy breath and begins to respond, setting up the king’s next speech.