Shloka 17
धृतराष्ट्र–दुर्योधन संवादः
Vāraṇāvata-vivāsana-nīti: Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Duryodhana’s Policy Dialogue
स तदादाय मिथुन राजा च कृपयान्वित: । आजगाम गृहानेव मम पुत्राविति ब्रुवन्,तदनन्तर गौतमनन्दन शरद्वानके उसी वीर्यसे एक पुत्र और एक कन्याकी उत्पत्ति हुई। उस दिन दैवेच्छासे राजा शन्तनु वनमें शिकार खेलने आये थे। उनके किसी सैनिकने वनमें उन युगल संतानोंको देखा। वहाँ बाणसहित धनुष और काला मृगचर्म देखकर उसने यह जान लिया कि “ये दोनों किसी धरनुर्वेदके पारंगत विद्वान ब्राह्मणकी संतानें हैं” ऐसा निश्चय होनेपर उसने राजाको वे दोनों बालक और बाणसहित धनुष दिखाया। राजा उन्हें देखते ही कृपाके वशीभूत हो गये और उन दोनोंको साथ ले अपने घर आ गये। वे किसीके पूछनेपर यही परिचय देते थे कि “ये दोनों मेरी ही संतानें हैं"
sa tadādāya mithunaṃ rājā ca kṛpayānvitāḥ | ājagāma gṛhān eva mama putrāv iti bruvan ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Moved by compassion, the king took the pair of children with him and returned to his palace, declaring, “These two are my sons.” In doing so, he chose protection and care over inquiry into their origins, adopting them as his own and giving them shelter and status.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights compassionate kingship: a ruler’s dharma includes protecting vulnerable beings and taking responsibility for their welfare, even when their origins are uncertain.
The king, overcome with compassion, takes the two children with him to his home and publicly identifies them as his own, effectively adopting them and granting them security and social standing.