Shloka 6
Rajo-dhūli-saṃmūḍha-saṅgrāmaḥ
The Dust-Obscured Battle and Mutual Charges
पाण्डवानां प्रतापेन दुर्ग देशं निवेश्य च । सपत्नान् सततं बाधन्नार्यवृत्तिमनुछित:,पहले तो वह समस्त सेनाका परित्याग करके (अकेला ही) दुर्गमें छिपा रहता था। फिर पाण्डवोंके प्रतापसे दुर्गम प्रदेशमें रहकर निरन्तर शत्रुओंको बाधा पहुँचाते हुए सदाचारका पालन करने लगा
pāṇḍavānāṃ pratāpena durga-deśaṃ niveśya ca | sapatnān satataṃ bādhan ārya-vṛttim anucchitaḥ ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Pressed by the prowess of the Pāṇḍavas, he withdrew and took shelter in a hard-to-reach stronghold. Yet, while continually harassing his rivals, he also began to conduct himself in a manner consistent with noble, righteous custom.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid hostility and tactical warfare, one is expected to uphold ārya-vṛtti—noble, dharmic standards of conduct—showing that ethical restraint is not automatically negated by conflict.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra describes a figure compelled by the Pāṇḍavas’ strength to retreat into an inaccessible stronghold; from there he continually troubles his opponents, yet is portrayed as maintaining socially approved, ‘noble’ conduct.