Shloka 4
अपने पुत्रोंकी विजय चाहनेवाले विद्वान् एवं बुद्धिमान् राजा धृतराष्ट्रने बुद्धितत्त्वके द्वारा उक्त वचनके सूक्ष्म-से-सूक्ष्म गुण-दोषोंकी यथावत् समीक्षा करके दोनों पक्षोंकी प्रबलता एवं निर्बलताका यथार्थरूपसे निश्चय कर लिया। तत्पश्चात् जब उन्हें यह विश्वास हो गया कि गुण-दोषकी दृष्टिसे श्रीकृष्णका कथन सर्वोत्कृष्ट है, तब उन बुद्धिमान् नरेशने पुनः कौरवों और पाण्डवोंकी शक्तिपर विचार करना आरम्भ किया ।। देवमानुषयो: शक्त्या तेजसा चैव पाण्डवान् । कुरून् शक््त्याल्पतरया दुर्योधनमथाब्रवीत्,पाण्डवोंमें दैवी शक्ति, मानवी शक्ति तथा तेज--इन सभी दृष्टियोंसे उत्कृष्टता प्रतीत हुई और कौरव-पक्षकी शक्ति अल्प जान पड़ी, इस प्रकार विचार करके धृतराष्ट्रने दुर्योधनसे कहा--
devamānuṣayoḥ śaktyā tejasā caiva pāṇḍavān | kurūn śaktyālpatarayā duryodhanam athābravīt ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Dhṛtarāṣṭra—though intent on securing victory for his own sons—carefully weighed, with subtle discernment, the merits and faults in the counsel that had been spoken, and thus judged the true strengths and weaknesses of both sides. Convinced that Kṛṣṇa’s reasoning was ethically and strategically superior, he again reflected on the power of the Kauravas and the Pāṇḍavas. Seeing the Pāṇḍavas as pre-eminent in divine support, human capability, and splendor, and the Kauravas as comparatively weaker, he then addressed Duryodhana.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when driven by partiality, a ruler is expected to examine counsel with discernment—measuring merits and faults—and to recognize where ethical and strategic superiority truly lies. The verse highlights that legitimacy and success are not merely numerical or political, but also depend on tejas (moral-martial brilliance) and perceived divine alignment.
After reflecting on the counsel attributed to Kṛṣṇa and judging it best, Dhṛtarāṣṭra compares the two factions. He concludes that the Pāṇḍavas surpass the Kauravas in divine backing, human strength, and tejas, and then turns to speak directly to Duryodhana.