Shloka 6
धृतराष्ट्रस्य स्पर्शाभिलाषः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Request for Touch and Permission for Tapas
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत आश्रमवासिकपवके अन्तर्गत आश्रमवासपर्वमें धृतराष्रका उपदेशविषयक छठा अध्याय पूरा हुआ
utsāha-prabhu-śaktibhyāṁ mantra-śaktyā ca bhārata | upapanno nṛpo yāyād viparītaṁ ca varjayet ||
हे भारत! जो राजा उत्साह-शक्ति, प्रभु-शक्ति और मन्त्र-शक्ति—इन तीनों में शत्रु से बढ़कर हो, वही आक्रमण करे; और यदि स्थिति विपरीत हो तो आक्रमण का विचार भी त्याग दे।
धघतयाट्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should wage war only when he has superior (1) personal resolve and initiative (utsāha), (2) sovereign resources and authority (prabhu-śakti), and (3) strategic counsel and policy (mantra-śakti). If these are lacking, restraint is the ethical and prudent course.
In the Ashramavāsika context, Dhṛtarāṣṭra delivers counsel on kingship and conduct, emphasizing measured decision-making in warfare: attack only from a position of clear strength and sound counsel, otherwise avoid aggression.