Shloka 19
धृतराष्ट्रस्य स्पर्शाभिलाषः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Request for Touch and Permission for Tapas
एवमेतन्महाराज राजा सम्यक् समाचरन् | प्रेत्य स्वर्गमवाप्नोति प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन्
evam etan mahārāja rājā samyak samācaran | pretya svargam avāpnoti prajā dharmeṇa pālayan ||
ऐसा ही है, महाराज। जो राजा इन बातों पर विचार करके यथोचित आचरण करता है और धर्मपूर्वक प्रजा का पालन करता है, वह मृत्यु के बाद स्वर्ग को प्राप्त होता है।
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that a king’s spiritual outcome is tied to ethical governance: right personal conduct and the protection of subjects according to dharma lead to merit and heavenly attainment after death.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra affirms a principle of rājadharma being discussed: that a ruler who thoughtfully follows proper conduct and upholds dharma in caring for the people gains a favorable posthumous destiny (Svarga).