Shloka 84

Devanagari script

धृतराष्ट्र इति ख्यात: कृष्णद्वैपायनात्मज: । दीर्घबाहुर्महातेजा: प्रज्ञाचक्षुर्नराधिप:

Transliteration

dhṛtarāṣṭra iti khyātaḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyanātmajaḥ | dīrghabāhur mahātejāḥ prajñācakṣur narādhipaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : «Il était renommé sous le nom de Dhṛtarāṣṭra, fils de Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa). Aux longs bras, d’un éclat puissant, c’était un roi dont la vraie vue était la sagesse, bien que la vue des yeux lui fît défaut.»

Word by Word

धृतराष्ट्रःDhṛtarāṣṭra (he whose kingdom is held/firm)

इतिthus; as (named)

ख्यातःknown; famed

कृष्णद्वैपायनात्मजःson of Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa)

दीर्घबाहुःlong-armed

महातेजाःof great splendor/energy

प्रज्ञाचक्षुःhaving wisdom as (his) eyes; wise-sighted

नराधिपःking; ruler of men

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts outer limitation with inner capacity: true leadership is grounded not merely in physical faculties but in prajñā (discernment). By calling Dhṛtarāṣṭra 'prajñācakṣuḥ', it highlights ethical kingship as rooted in insight and judgment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is introducing/characterizing Dhṛtarāṣṭra, identifying him by name and lineage as Vyāsa’s son, and describing his royal stature and notable qualities, setting context for the Kuru succession and the unfolding family history.