Shloka 43
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Restraint and the Pāṇḍavas’ Authorized Return (धृतराष्ट्र-उपदेशः)
(बाह्लीक: सोमदत्तश्न प्रातीपेय: ससंजय: । द्रौणिभूरिश्रवाश्वैव युयुत्सुर्धतराष्ट्रज: ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
bāhlīkaḥ somadattaś ca prātīpeyaḥ sa sañjayaḥ |
drauṇir bhūriśravāś caiva yuyutsuś dhṛtarāṣṭrajaḥ ||
hastau piṁṣann adhovaktrā niḥśvasanta iva oragāḥ ||
dhṛtarāṣṭras tu taṁ hṛṣṭaḥ paryapṛcchat punaḥ punaḥ |
kiṁ jitaṁ kiṁ jitam iti hy ākāraṁ nābhyarakṣata ||
ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ବାହ୍ଲୀକ, ପ୍ରତୀପଙ୍କ ପୌତ୍ର ସୋମଦତ୍ତ, ସଞ୍ଜୟ, ଦ୍ରୋଣପୁତ୍ର ଅଶ୍ୱତ୍ଥାମା, ଭୂରିଶ୍ରବା ଏବଂ ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରପୁତ୍ର ଯୁଯୁତ୍ସୁ—ଏମାନେ ସମସ୍ତେ ମୁହଁ ନମାଇ, ସର୍ପମାନଙ୍କ ପରି ଦୀର୍ଘ ନିଶ୍ୱାସ ଛାଡ଼ି, ଦୁଇହାତ ଘସିବାକୁ ଲାଗିଲେ। କିନ୍ତୁ ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର ମନେମନେ ହର୍ଷିତ ହୋଇ, ପୁନଃପୁନଃ ପଚାରୁଥିଲେ—“କ’ଣ ଜିତିଲୁ? କ’ଣ ଜିତିଲୁ?”—ଏବଂ ନିଜ ଆନନ୍ଦର ଚିହ୍ନ ଲୁଚାଇ ପାରିଲେ ନାହିଁ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how attachment and partisanship distort judgment: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s eagerness for his side’s success becomes visible despite attempts at restraint. Ethically, it contrasts the ideal of royal self-control and impartiality with the reality of desire-driven conduct.
A group of Kuru-aligned elders and warriors sit in tense discomfort—downcast, rubbing their hands, breathing like snakes—while Dhṛtarāṣṭra, pleased within, repeatedly asks for news of victory, unable to hide his excitement.