Shloka 36
न वैश्रुतं धार्तराष्ट्रेण वाक््यं मयोच्यमानं विदुरेण चैव । द्रोणेन रामेण जनार्दनेन मुहुर्मुहु: संजयेनापि चोक्तम्
na vaiśrutaṃ dhārtarāṣṭreṇa vākyaṃ mayocyamānaṃ vidureṇa caiva | droṇena rāmeṇa janārdanena muhurmuhuḥ saṃjayenāpi coktam ||
Sañjaya dit : Dhṛtarāṣṭra n’a pas prêté attention au conseil que je lui adressais, ni à celui de Vidura. À maintes reprises, Droṇa, Rāma et Janārdana l’ont exhorté de la même manière—et Sañjaya aussi l’a répété sans cesse—; pourtant, il n’a pas voulu écouter. Ainsi, ce vers met en lumière la tragédie morale de la surdité volontaire aux avis sages : lorsque l’attachement et la partialité règnent, même les voix les plus autorisées ne peuvent détourner un souverain du chemin qui mène à la ruine.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that ethical failure often begins with refusing to listen to wise counsel. Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s partiality toward his sons makes him disregard repeated warnings from trusted, authoritative figures, showing how attachment can overpower dharma and lead to destructive outcomes.
Sañjaya reports that Dhṛtarāṣṭra did not accept the advice offered by multiple respected voices—Sañjaya himself, Vidura, Droṇa, Baladeva (Rāma), and Kṛṣṇa (Janārdana). The line highlights the repeated attempts to restrain or correct him and his persistent refusal to heed them.