Shloka 18
अध्याय ६ — युधिष्ठिरस्य वैराग्य-वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनगमनाभिलाषश्च
Chapter 6: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Renunciatory Appeal and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Resolve for the Forest
तिष्ठेथा राजशार्दूल वैतसीं वृत्तिमास्थित: । यद्येनममभियायाच्च बलवान दुर्बल॑ नृप:
tiṣṭhethā rājaśārdūla vaitasīṃ vṛttim āsthitaḥ | yady enam abhiyāyāc ca balavān durbalo nṛpaḥ ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra dit : «Reste ici, tigre parmi les rois, en adoptant une manière de vivre semblable au roseau : humble, souple, soutenue par des moyens simples. Car, qu’un homme puissant ou qu’un roi faible vienne l’assaillir, qu’il demeure ferme dans cette voie de retenue.»
धघतयाट्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse commends a disciplined, simple, and flexible mode of living—‘reed-like’ in humility and endurance—so that one remains steady and ethically grounded even when confronted by threats from the strong or the weak.
In the Ashramavāsika context, Dhṛtarāṣṭra speaks about remaining in an austere, forest-oriented way of life and maintaining composure and restraint, regardless of who might come forward in hostility.