Shloka 83
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
धर्मपुत्र: स्वपितरं परिष्वज्य महाप्रभुम् । शोकजं बाष्पमुत्सृज्य पुनर्वचनमब्रवीत्,अपने ताऊ महाप्रभु राजा धृतराष्ट्रको इस प्रकार उपवास करनेके कारण थके हुए, दुर्बल, कान्तिहीन, अस्थिचर्मावशिष्ट और अयोग्य अवस्थामें स्थित देख धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिर क्षोभजनित आँसू बहाते हुए उनसे इस प्रकार बोले--
dharmaputraḥ svapitaraṃ pariṣvajya mahāprabhum | śokajaṃ bāṣpam utsṛjya punar vacanam abravīt ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Dharmaputra (Yudhiṣṭhira) memeluk sang mahaprabhu, sesepuh yang bagai ayah baginya; menumpahkan air mata duka, lalu berbicara kepadanya sekali lagi.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma expressed as compassionate responsibility toward elders: even after catastrophic conflict, Yudhiṣṭhira responds to Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s austere suffering with reverence, empathy, and a desire to speak rightly—showing that ethical conduct includes care, restraint, and reconciliation.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira embraces the elder (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) and, overwhelmed by grief, sheds tears. After this emotional moment, he speaks again—prompted by seeing Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s frail condition due to fasting and forest austerities.