Shloka 343
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
गान्धार्याश्रैव राजेन्द्र तदनुज्ञातुमरहसि । “वे सब युद्धमें सम्मुख मारे गये हैं, अतः शस्त्रधारियोंको मिलनेवाले लोकोंमें गये हैं। राजेन्द्र! अब तो मुझे और गान्धारीदेवीको अपने हितके लिये पवित्र तप करना है; अतः इसके लिये हमें अनुमति दो
gāndhāryāś caiva rājendra tad anu jñātum arhasi |
ドリタラーシュトラは言った。「王の中の最上なる者よ、ガーンダーリーと私に許しを与えよ。我らの息子たちは皆、戦場で敵に正面から向かい合って倒れた。ゆえに、武器を携えて死ぬ者に約束された諸世界へと至ったのだ。今や、我ら自身の最高の利益のために、ガーンダーリーと私は身を清める苦行（タパス）に入らねばならぬ。どうかそれを許してほしい。」
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even after catastrophic loss, one may turn toward purification and spiritual discipline. Dhṛtarāṣṭra frames renunciation and tapas as a pursuit of ultimate welfare (hita), while also acknowledging the warrior code that grants fallen fighters a destined posthumous realm.
In the Āśramavāsika episode, Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses Yudhiṣṭhira as ‘rājendra’ and seeks formal permission for himself and Gāndhārī to withdraw from courtly life and undertake ascetic austerities, interpreting the deaths of their sons as having led them to the warriors’ worlds.