Shloka 21
Chapter 26: Śoka-pratiṣedha, Hata-saṅkhyā, Gati-vibhāga, Pretakārya-ājñā
Restraint of Grief, Count of the Slain, Destinies, and Funerary Directives
धृतराष्ट्र रवाच अनाथानां जनानां च सनाथानां च भारत | कच्चित् तेषां शरीराणि धक्ष्यसे विधिपूर्वकम्,धृतराष्ट्रने पूछा--भारत! यहाँ जो अनाथ और सनाथ योद्धा मरे पड़े हैं, क्या तुम उनके शरीरोंका विधिपूर्वक दाह-संस्कार करा दोगे?
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | anāthānāṃ janānāṃ ca sanāthānāṃ ca bhārata | kaccit teṣāṃ śarīrāṇi dhakṣyase vidhipūrvakam ||
ധൃതരാഷ്ട്രൻ ചോദിച്ചു—ഹേ ഭാരതാ! ഇവിടെ അനാഥരും സനാഥരും ആയി മരിച്ചുകിടക്കുന്നവരുടെ ശരീരങ്ങൾ നീ വിധിപൂർവം ദഹനസംസ്കാരം ചെയ്യുമോ?
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even after a devastating war, dharma continues: the dead—whether friendless or supported—deserve proper last rites. Ethical responsibility extends beyond victory to compassionate, rule-governed care for the fallen.
In the aftermath of the Kurukṣetra slaughter, Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses Yudhiṣṭhira (as “Bhārata”) and asks whether he will arrange the cremation of the bodies lying on the field, performing the rites properly for all, regardless of whether they have surviving relatives.