Shloka 25
Rāmopākhyāna—Rāma–Sītā Origins and the Opening of Rāvaṇa’s Genealogy
धार्तराष्ट्रोडपि नृपति: प्रशशास वसुन्धराम्
dhārtarāṣṭro 'pi nṛpatiḥ praśaśāsa vasundharām
വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അന്ധനായിരുന്ന ധൃതരാഷ്ട്രനും നൃപതിയായി ഈ വസുന്ധരയെ ഭരിച്ചു; രാജ്യക്രമം നിലനിർത്തി, ഭൂമിയിൽ രാജാധികാരം പ്രയോഗിച്ചുകൊണ്ട്।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the dharmic ideal of kingship: sovereignty is defined by the capacity to govern and uphold order in the realm, even when personal limitations exist. Authority carries the ethical duty of administration and protection of the earth (the people and the land).
Vaiśampāyana briefly notes that Dhṛtarāṣṭra held and exercised royal power over the kingdom—setting the political background for subsequent events by affirming his position as the reigning Kuru monarch.