Shloka 15
कुन्ती-युधिष्ठिरसंवादः
Kuntī–Yudhiṣṭhira Dialogue on Bhīma’s Mission
एवमुक्त्वा ततश्नक्रे ज्ञातिभि: परिवारित: । उदकं पाण्डुपुत्राणां धृतराष्ट्रोौडम्बिकासुत:,“इस दशामें मुझे पाण्डवों तथा कुन्तीका हित करनेके लिये जो-जो कार्य करना चाहिये या जो-जो कार्य मुझसे हो सकता है, वह सब धन खर्च करके सम्पन्न किया जाय।' यों कहकर अम्बिकानन्दन धृतराष्ट्रने जातिभाइयोंसे घिरे रहकर पाण्डवोंके लिये जलांजलि देनेका कार्य किया
evam uktvā tataḥ śakre jñātibhiḥ parivāritaḥ | udakaṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ dhṛtarāṣṭro ’mbikāsutaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having spoken thus, Dhṛtarāṣṭra—the son of Ambikā—surrounded by his kinsmen, performed the rite of offering water (a funerary libation) for the sons of Pāṇḍu. In doing so, he also expressed that whatever acts were proper and possible for him to undertake for the welfare of the Pāṇḍavas and of Kuntī should be carried out, even at the cost of spending wealth—framing his response as a duty of kinship and moral responsibility amid loss.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma expressed as kinship-responsibility: even amid sorrow and political complexity, one should perform the proper rites for the departed and commit resources to the welfare of vulnerable family members (here, the Pāṇḍavas and Kuntī), treating such care as a moral obligation rather than a mere choice.
After making a statement about doing whatever he can for the good of the Pāṇḍavas and Kuntī, Dhṛtarāṣṭra—attended by his relatives—performs the ceremonial water-offering (udaka) for the sons of Pāṇḍu, a customary act of mourning and respect.