Shloka 8
Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 52: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Strength and the Case for Restraint
दर्शनीयो मनस्वी च लक्ष्मीवान् ब्रह्म॒वर्चसी । मेधावी सुकृतप्रज्ञो धर्मात्मा पाण्डुनन्दन:
darśanīyo manasvī ca lakṣmīvān brahmavarcāsī | medhāvī sukṛtaprajño dharmātmā pāṇḍunandanaḥ ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Putera Pāṇḍu itu elok dipandang dan berjiwa luhur; dikurniai tuah serta sinar kemuliaan ilmu suci. Dia cerdas, berakal budi yang terbina oleh jasa kebajikan, dan teguh berpegang pada dharma.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links outward excellence (admirable presence and prosperity) with inner excellence (wisdom, merit-formed discernment, and devotion to dharma), implying that true worth in a prince is measured by righteous character and cultivated intellect, not merely power.
In Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Dhṛtarāṣṭra describes a Pāṇḍava as exemplary—handsome, fortunate, spiritually radiant, intelligent, and dharma-minded—highlighting the recognized virtues of the opposing side even amid rising conflict.