Shloka 57
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
चिरमस्म्युषित: पुत्र चिरं शुश्रूषितस्त्वया । वृद्ध मामप्यनुज्ञातुमर्हसि त्वं नराधिप
ciram asmy uṣitaḥ putra ciraṁ śuśrūṣitas tvayā | vṛddha mām apy anujñātum arhasi tvaṁ narādhipa ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra dijo: «Hijo mío, oh soberano de los hombres, he vivido contigo largo tiempo, y largo tiempo me has atendido con servicio devoto. Ahora la vejez ha caído sobre mí; por ello, oh rey, debes concederme también permiso: partir hacia el bosque».
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic transition of life-stages: after long household life and receiving due care, an elder may seek renunciation (vānaprastha), and the king/son has an ethical duty to grant respectful permission, balancing affection with the higher call of detachment.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses his son (in context, the reigning king Yudhiṣṭhira), acknowledging prolonged hospitality and service, and requests formal leave to withdraw to the forest, signaling his resolve to abandon courtly life in old age.