Shloka 2036
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
संजयेनाथ गान्धार्या तदिदं तप्यते च माम् । विदुर
sañjayenātha gāndhāryā tad idaṃ tapyate ca mām | vidura-bhīṣma-droṇācārya-kṛpācārya-mahātmā bhagavān vyāsaḥ sañjayaś ca gāndhārī devī ca me pada-padaṃ yuktam upadeśam adaduḥ, kintu mayā kasyāpi vākyam na gṛhītam | sā me bhūliḥ sadā santāpaṃ janayati |
Dhṛtarāṣṭra dijo: «Por Sañjaya y por Gāndhārī, este remordimiento arde dentro de mí. Vidura, Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa, el magnánimo Bhagavān Vyāsa, y también Sañjaya y la reina Gāndhārī me dieron consejo acertado a cada paso; pero yo no acepté las palabras de nadie. Ese error me atormenta sin cesar.»
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s downfall often begins with refusing wise counsel. Dhṛtarāṣṭra recognizes that repeated, well-intentioned guidance from elders and seers is meant to restrain adharma; ignoring it leads to irreversible consequences and lasting remorse.
In the Āśramavāsika context, Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects on the past after the war’s devastation. He confesses that despite constant advice from Vidura, Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa, Vyāsa, Sañjaya, and Gāndhārī, he failed to heed them, and now he suffers continual inner torment.