Shloka 34
धृतराष्ट्रस्य मूर्च्छा—व्यासोपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Collapse and Vyāsa’s Counsel
दुष्ट राजानमासाद्य गतास्ते तनया नृप । एतमर्थ महाबाहो नारदो वेद तत्त्ववित्,महाबाहु नरेश्वर! दुष्ट राजाको पाकर तुम्हारे सभी पुत्र उसीके साथ नष्ट हो गये। इस बातको तत्त्ववेत्ता नारदजी जानते हैं
duṣṭa-rājānam āsādya gatās te tanayā nṛpa | etam arthaṃ mahābāho nārado veda tattvavit ||
Vyāsa said: “O king, your sons, having come into the power and company of a wicked ruler, have met their ruin along with him. This truth is known to Nārada, the knower of reality. The verse underscores how association with unrighteous leadership corrupts judgment and leads even the mighty to destruction.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that association with unrighteous leadership (duṣṭa-rājā) brings moral and practical ruin; even strong lineages collapse when they align with adharma. It highlights ethical responsibility in choosing alliances and advisers.
Vyāsa addresses a king, explaining that the king’s sons have been destroyed because they came under the influence or cause of a wicked ruler, and he cites Nārada—known as a tattvavit—as one who understands this truth.