Shloka 6
धृतराष्ट्रस्य स्पर्शाभिलाषः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Request for Touch and Permission for Tapas
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत आश्रमवासिकपवके अन्तर्गत आश्रमवासपर्वमें धृतराष्रका उपदेशविषयक छठा अध्याय पूरा हुआ
utsāha-prabhu-śaktibhyāṁ mantra-śaktyā ca bhārata | upapanno nṛpo yāyād viparītaṁ ca varjayet ||
हे भारत! जो राजा उत्साह-शक्ती, प्रभु-शक्ती आणि मंत्र-शक्ती—या तिन्ही बाबतीत शत्रूपेक्षा श्रेष्ठ असेल, त्यानेच आक्रमण करावे; आणि अवस्था उलटी असल्यास आक्रमणाचा विचारही सोडावा।
धघतयाट्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should wage war only when he has superior (1) personal resolve and initiative (utsāha), (2) sovereign resources and authority (prabhu-śakti), and (3) strategic counsel and policy (mantra-śakti). If these are lacking, restraint is the ethical and prudent course.
In the Ashramavāsika context, Dhṛtarāṣṭra delivers counsel on kingship and conduct, emphasizing measured decision-making in warfare: attack only from a position of clear strength and sound counsel, otherwise avoid aggression.