Shloka 24
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
धृतराष्ट्र रवाच ये नृत्यगीते कुशला जना: सदा हायाचमाना: सहिताश्षरन्ति | तथाविधानामेष लोको महर्षे परं गन्ता धृतराष्ट्रो न तत्र
gautama uvāca | dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca ye nṛtyagīte kuśalā janāḥ sadā ayācamānāḥ sahitāś caranti | tathāvidhānām eṣa loko maharṣe paraṃ gantā dhṛtarāṣṭro na tatra ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Wahai maharṣi, mereka yang mahir dalam tarian dan nyanyian, yang tidak pernah meminta-minta daripada sesiapa, dan yang sentiasa bergerak dalam pergaulan orang-orang berbudi—alam yang menyenangkan ini diperuntukkan bagi mereka. Namun Raja Dhṛtarāṣṭra tidak akan mencapai alam itu.”
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Refined skill alone is not the point; the verse highlights ethical markers of worthiness—self-reliance (not begging), and steady association with the virtuous—as qualifications for attaining a higher, pleasant realm. It also underscores accountability: Dhṛtarāṣṭra admits he does not qualify for that state.
In conversation with the sage Gautama, Dhṛtarāṣṭra speaks about who is fit for a delightful heavenly-like world (described in the surrounding context as Nandana-like). He then states that he himself will not reach that realm, implying remorse and recognition of his moral shortcomings.