Shloka 40
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
त्वं चापि फलभाक् तात तपस: पार्थिवो हासि । फलभाजो हि राजान: कल्याणस्येतरस्य वा
tvaṃ cāpi phalabhāk tāta tapasaḥ pārthivo hāsi | phalabhājo hi rājānaḥ kalyāṇasyetarasyā vā ||
धृतराष्ट्र बोले—तात! तुम भी इस तपस्या के उत्तम फल के भागी होगे, क्योंकि तुम राजा हो। राजा अपने राज्य में होने वाले शुभ अथवा अशुभ—सभी कर्मों के फल के भागी होते हैं।
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches rajadharma: a ruler is morally implicated in the outcomes within his kingdom and therefore shares the karmic results—good or bad—of what happens under his governance; likewise, a king participating in austerity gains its merit.
In the forest-ascetic setting of the Āśramavāsika narrative, Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses his ‘son’ affectionately and explains that, as a king, he will partake in the fruits of the ongoing tapas, just as kings partake in the results of deeds occurring in their realm.