Shloka 54
धृतराष्ट्रविलापः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament and Inquiry (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 2)
मुहुर्मुहुर्मुह्मान: पुत्राधिभिरभिप्लुत: । विलप्य सुचिरं काल धृतराष्ट्रोडम्बिकासुत:
muhurmuhurmuhyamānaḥ putrādhibhir abhiplutaḥ | vilapya suciraṃ kālaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭro ’mbikāsutaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Berkali-kali Dhṛtarāṣṭra—putera Ambikā—terjatuh ke dalam kebingungan, ditenggelami dukacita atas anak-anak lelakinya. Baginda meratap lama, dan fikirannya berulang kali tenggelam di bawah beban keterikatan dan kehilangan sesudah perang.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how attachment (especially to one’s children and lineage) can repeatedly cloud judgment and drown a person in grief. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, unchecked moha (delusion born of attachment) leads to prolonged suffering and prevents clear discernment of dharma, especially after the consequences of adharma have unfolded.
After the catastrophic losses of the Kurukṣetra war, Dhṛtarāṣṭra is shown repeatedly losing composure, overwhelmed by sorrow for his sons. He continues lamenting for a long time, and the narrator (Vaiśampāyana) emphasizes the cyclical nature of his grief and confusion.