Shloka 44
शल्यपर्वणि प्रथमाध्यायः — Karṇa-vadha-anantaraṃ Śalya-niyogaḥ, Saṃjayasya Dhṛtarāṣṭra-nivedanam
शनैरलभत प्राणान् पुत्रव्यसनकर्शित: । तत्पश्चात् पुत्रशोकसे पीड़ित हुए पृथ्वीपति राजा धृतराष्ट्रमें बड़ी कठिनाईसे धीरे-धीरे प्राणोंका संचार हुआ ।।
śanair alabhat prāṇān putravyasanakarśitaḥ | tatpaścāt putraśokena pīḍito bhūmipatiḥ rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ mahākaṣṭena dhīre-dhīre prāṇasañcāraṃ lebhe || labdhvā tu sa nṛpaḥ saṃjñāṃ vepamānaḥ suduḥkhitaḥ | cetanāṃ prāpya rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ atyanta-duḥkhī tharathar kāṃpane lage, sarvā diśaḥ avalokya viduraṃ prati evam uvāca— “vidvan! mahājñānī vidura! bharatabhūṣaṇa! adhunā tvam eva me putrahīnasya anāthasya sarvathā āśrayaḥ.” iti uktvā sa punaḥ acetanaḥ bhūmau papāta ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Worn down by the calamity that had befallen his sons, Dhṛtarāṣṭra slowly regained his breath with great difficulty. Then, tormented by grief for his children, the lord of the earth gradually returned to consciousness. But as soon as he came to his senses, he trembled in extreme anguish; looking around in every direction, he addressed Vidura: “Learned one—wise Vidura, ornament of the Bhāratas—now you alone are the complete refuge of me, bereft of sons and left without support.” Having said this, he again lost consciousness and fell to the ground.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the fragility of worldly power and the crushing aftermath of adharma-driven conflict: even a king becomes helpless when bound by attachment and loss. It also points to the ethical role of the wise counselor—Vidura—as a refuge grounded in discernment and dharma when familial and political supports collapse.
After hearing of the devastation of his sons, Dhritarashtra slowly revives, then trembles in overwhelming sorrow. He looks around in confusion and appeals to Vidura as his sole support, calling himself sonless and without refuge; immediately afterward, he faints again and falls to the ground.