Shloka 8
धृतराष्ट्र-सत्कारः तथा श्राद्ध-दाने नियमनम् | Honoring Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Regulating Śrāddha-Gifts
तत् सर्वमन्ववर्तन्त तस्य प्रियचिकीर्षया । तदनन्तर महामना कुरुकुलनन्दन राजा धुृतराष्ट्र उक्त अवसरोंपर सुयोग्य ब्राह्मणोंको बारम्बार प्रचुर धनका दान करते थे। धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर, भीमसेन, सव्यसाची अर्जुन और नकुल-सहदेव भी उनका प्रिय करनेकी इच्छासे सब कार्योमें उनका साथ देते थे ।। कथं नु राजा वृद्धः स पुत्रपौत्रवधार्दित:,विपरीतकश्न मे शत्रुर्नियम्यश्न भवेन्नर: । राजा युधिष्ठिर बड़े दयालु थे। वे सदा प्रसन्न रहकर अपने भाइयों और मन्त्रियोंसे कहा करते थे कि “ये राजा धृतराष्ट्र मेरे और आपलोगोंके माननीय हैं। जो इनकी आज्ञाके अधीन रहता है, वही मेरा सुहृद् है। विपरीत आचरण करनेवाला मेरा शत्रु है। वह मेरे दण्डका भागी होगा
tat sarvam anvavartanta tasya priyacikīrṣayā | tadanantaraṁ mahāmanā kurukulanandana rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ ukta-avasareṣu suyogya-brāhmaṇebhyaḥ bāraṁbāraṁ pracura-dhanasya dānaṁ karoti sma | dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ bhīmasenaḥ savyasācī arjunaḥ nakula-sahadevau ca tasya priyam icchantaḥ sarva-kāryeṣu tam anvavartanta || kathaṁ nu rājā vṛddhaḥ sa putra-pautra-vadha-arditaḥ, viparīta-kṛt me śatrur niyamyaś ca bhaven naraḥ |
They complied with all of this, wishing to do what was pleasing to him. Thereafter, the noble Dhṛtarāṣṭra, delight of the Kuru line, at fitting occasions repeatedly bestowed abundant wealth upon worthy brāhmaṇas. Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira—along with Bhīmasena, Arjuna the ambidextrous archer, and the twins Nakula and Sahadeva—also accompanied him in every undertaking, desiring to please him. Yudhiṣṭhira, ever compassionate, would cheerfully tell his brothers and ministers: “This aged King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, afflicted by the slaughter of his sons and grandsons, is venerable to me and to you all. Whoever remains under his command is my friend; whoever acts contrary is my enemy and shall be subject to my restraint and punishment.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma in kingship includes honoring and protecting venerable elders even when they belong to the former opposing side; loyalty to rightful authority and compassionate restraint are framed as ethical duties, while deliberate defiance of that order is treated as punishable.
After the war, Dhṛtarāṣṭra repeatedly gives generous gifts to worthy brāhmaṇas. The Pāṇḍavas accompany and assist him in all tasks to please him. Yudhiṣṭhira instructs his brothers and ministers to regard Dhṛtarāṣṭra as venerable and to treat obedience to him as a mark of friendship, while warning that contrary conduct will be disciplined.