Shloka 26
पाण्डवानां वनप्रस्थानवर्णनम् / The Pāṇḍavas’ Departure for the Forest
Vidura’s Report and Portents
एवमुकक््त्वा धृतराष्ट्रो मनीषी हितान्वेषी बान्धवानामपायात् | कृष्णां पाञ्चालीमब्रवीत् सानन््त्वपूर्व विमृश्यैतत् प्रज्ञया तत्त्वबुद्धि:
evam uktvā dhṛtarāṣṭro manīṣī hitānveṣī bāndhavānām apāyāt | kṛṣṇāṃ pāñcālīm abravīt sāntvapurvaṃ vimṛśyaitat prajñayā tattvabuddhiḥ ||
Having spoken thus, the wise King Dhṛtarāṣṭra—seeking the welfare of his kinsmen and wishing to avert their ruin—reflected with discerning intelligence on this painful episode. Then, addressing Kṛṣṇā, the Pāñcāla princess, he spoke words of consolation, guided by insight into the truth of the matter.
धृतराष्टर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid wrongdoing and public humiliation, a ruler is expected to deliberate with clear intelligence and act to avert greater destruction—seeking the welfare of the entire family and offering measured, consoling speech rather than inflaming conflict.
After speaking earlier in the assembly context, Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects on the grievous situation and then addresses Draupadī (Kṛṣṇā Pāñcālī) with consolatory words, indicating an attempt to contain the crisis and prevent further ruin for the Kuru kin.