Shloka 12
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Śrāddha Request and Bhīma’s Objection (Āśramavāsika-parva, Adhyāya 17)
उपावत्तेषु पार्थेषु सर्वास्वेव वधूषु च । ययौ राजा महाप्राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रो वनं तदा
upāvatteṣu pārtheṣu sarvāsveva vadhūṣu ca | yayau rājā mahāprājño dhṛtarāṣṭro vanaṃ tadā ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Lorsque les fils de Pṛthā (les Pāṇḍava) et toutes leurs brus eurent pris congé et furent repartis, le roi Dhṛtarāṣṭra, d’une grande sagesse, se mit alors en route vers la forêt.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic withdrawal from worldly authority: after family matters are settled, an aged ruler turns toward renunciation and austerity, emphasizing detachment, accountability, and the pursuit of inner clarity over continued attachment to power.
After the Pāṇḍavas and all their daughters-in-law have taken leave/returned from their attendance, Dhṛtarāṣṭra—described as very wise—departs for the forest, marking his transition from palace life to a forest-dwelling stage.