Shloka 13
Vāraṇāvata-praveśa and Jatugṛha-saṃdeha
Entry into Vāraṇāvata and Suspicion of the Lac-House
तस्मिंस्ततो5हनि प्राप्ते राजा ससचिवस्तदा । भीष्म॑ प्रमुखत: कृत्वा कृप॑ं चाचार्यसत्तमम्,तत्पश्चात् जब निश्चित दिन आया, तब मन्त्रियोंसहित राजा धृतराष्ट्र भीष्मजी तथा आचार्यप्रवर कृपको आगे करके बाह्नलीक, सोमदत्त, भूरिश्रवा तथा अन्यान्य कौरवों और मन्त्रियोंको साथ ले नगरसे बाहर उस दिव्य प्रेक्षागृहमें आये। उसमें मोतियोंकी झालरें लगी थीं, वैदूर्यमणियोंसे उस भवनको सजाया गया था तथा उसकी दीवारोंमें स्वर्णखण्ड मढ़े गये थे
tasmiṁs tato 'hani prāpte rājā sa-sacivas tadā | bhīṣmaṁ pramukhataḥ kṛtvā kṛpaṁ cācārya-sattamam ||
When that day arrived, King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, accompanied by his ministers, set out—placing Bhīṣma in the foremost position and also the eminent teacher Kṛpa. It frames the king’s public action as one undertaken under the guidance of senior, authoritative elders, suggesting a concern for propriety and legitimacy in what is about to be witnessed.
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s actions gain ethical weight and public legitimacy when undertaken with proper counsel and under the guidance of respected elders and teachers; protocol and deference to dharmic authorities are emphasized.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra, with his ministers, proceeds on an appointed day, placing Bhīṣma at the front and taking the preceptor Kṛpa as well—signaling a formal, supervised royal outing connected to an important public event.