Shloka 23
शल्यपर्वणि प्रथमाध्यायः — Karṇa-vadha-anantaraṃ Śalya-niyogaḥ, Saṃjayasya Dhṛtarāṣṭra-nivedanam
स््नुषाभिर्भरतश्रेष्ठ गान्धार्या विदुरेण च । तथान्यैश्न सुहृद्धिश्न ज्ञातिभिश्व हितैषिभि:
snuṣābhir bharataśreṣṭha gāndhāryā vidureṇa ca | tathānyaiś ca suhṛdbhiś ca jñātibhiś ca hitaiṣibhiḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: O best of the Bharatas, (Dhṛtarāṣṭra was accompanied) by his daughters-in-law, by Gāndhārī, and by Vidura as well; and likewise by other well-wishing friends and kinsmen devoted to his good—those who stood by him in counsel and care amid the ruin brought by war.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic ideal of standing by elders and leaders in distress: true well-wishers—family and friends—offer companionship and guidance, especially after the moral and social devastation of war.
Vaiśampāyana describes Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s entourage: the Kuru daughters-in-law, Queen Gāndhārī, Vidura, and other supportive relatives and friends accompany him, indicating a collective movement or departure undertaken with counsel and care.