Shloka 12
धृतराष्ट्र-सत्कारः तथा श्राद्ध-दाने नियमनम् | Honoring Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Regulating Śrāddha-Gifts
शिष्यवृत्तिं समापन्नान् गुरुवत् प्रत्यपद्यत । धृतराष्ट्र भी उन सबको परम विनीत, अपनी आज्ञाके अनुसार चलनेवाले और शिष्य- भावसे सेवामें संलग्न जानकर पिताकी भाँति उनसे स्नेह रखते थे ।। गान्धारी चैव पुत्राणां विविधै: श्राद्धकर्मभि:,विपरीतकश्न मे शत्रुर्नियम्यश्न भवेन्नर: । राजा युधिष्ठिर बड़े दयालु थे। वे सदा प्रसन्न रहकर अपने भाइयों और मन्त्रियोंसे कहा करते थे कि “ये राजा धृतराष्ट्र मेरे और आपलोगोंके माननीय हैं। जो इनकी आज्ञाके अधीन रहता है, वही मेरा सुहृद् है। विपरीत आचरण करनेवाला मेरा शत्रु है। वह मेरे दण्डका भागी होगा
śiṣyavṛttiṁ samāpannān guruvat pratyapadyata | dhṛtarāṣṭro 'pi tān sarvān parama-vinītān ājñānuvartinaḥ śiṣya-bhāvena sevāyāṁ saṁlagnān jñātvā pitṛvat snehaṁ cakāra || gāndhārī caiva putrāṇāṁ vividhaiḥ śrāddha-karmabhiḥ (śrāddha-kriyābhiḥ) || yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: viparīta-kṛt me śatrur niyamyaś ca bhaven naraḥ |
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Seeing them devoted in the manner of disciples, he received them as a teacher would. Dhṛtarāṣṭra too, recognizing them all as deeply humble, obedient to his commands, and engaged in service with a disciple’s attitude, cherished them with a father’s affection. Gāndhārī likewise performed various śrāddha rites for her sons. And King Yudhiṣṭhira, ever compassionate and serene, would tell his brothers and ministers: “King Dhṛtarāṣṭra is worthy of honor for me and for you all. Whoever remains under his command is my well-wisher; one who acts contrary is my enemy and will fall under my discipline and punishment.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Honor and obedience toward elders and rightful authority are treated as dharma: service done with a disciple’s humility earns paternal affection, while deliberate contrariness is framed as enmity and becomes liable to royal discipline (daṇḍa).
In the forest-dwelling phase, Dhṛtarāṣṭra receives the Pāṇḍavas with warmth because they serve him obediently; Gāndhārī performs śrāddha rites for her deceased sons; Yudhiṣṭhira instructs his court that loyalty to Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s commands is the standard of friendship and order.