Shloka 15
स्त्रीपर्व — गान्धारीभीमसेनसंवादः
Strī-parva — Gāndhārī–Bhīmasena Dialogue on Wartime Conduct
यथैव कुन्त्या कौन्तेया रक्षितव्यास्तथा मया । तथैव धृतराष्ट्रेण रक्षितव्या यथा त्वया,कुन्तीके ये बेटे जिस प्रकार कुन्तीके द्वारा रक्षणीय हैं, उसी प्रकार मुझे भी इनकी रक्षा करनी चाहिये। जैसे आप इनकी रक्षा चाहते हैं, उसी प्रकार महाराज धृतराष्ट्रका भी कर्तव्य है कि इनकी रक्षा करें
yathaiva kuntyā kaunteyā rakṣitavyās tathā mayā | tathaiva dhṛtarāṣṭreṇa rakṣitavyā yathā tvayā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Just as these Kaurava princes are to be protected for Kuntī’s sake, so too must I protect them. And in the very manner you desire their protection, King Dhṛtarāṣṭra also bears the duty to protect them.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes rājadharma: protection of those under one’s care is a binding obligation. Even amid grief and political upheaval, guardianship must be guided by duty, kinship responsibility, and the expressed intent of rightful stakeholders.
In the aftermath of the war (Strī Parva context), the speaker conveys a commitment that the Pāṇḍavas (Kuntī’s sons) should be safeguarded. He further states that Dhṛtarāṣṭra, too, is obligated to protect them in accordance with the addressee’s expressed wish.