Shloka 56
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
धृतराष्ट उवाच तापस्ये मे मनस्तात वर्तते कुरुनन्दन । उचितं च कुले5स्माकमरण्यगमन प्रभो
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | tāpasye me manas tāta vartate kurunandana | ucitaṃ ca kule 'smākam araṇyagamanaṃ prabho ||
ਧ੍ਰਿਤਰਾਸ਼ਟਰ ਬੋਲੇ—ਪੁੱਤਰ! ਕੁਰੂਆਂ ਦੇ ਆਨੰਦ! ਹੁਣ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨ ਤਪੱਸਿਆ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੀ ਟਿਕ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਪ੍ਰਭੋ! ਜੀਵਨ ਦੇ ਅੰਤਿਮ ਪੜਾਅ ਵਿੱਚ ਜੰਗਲ ਵੱਲ ਜਾਣਾ ਸਾਡੇ ਕੁਲ ਲਈ ਵੀ ਉਚਿਤ ਹੈ।
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse affirms āśrama-dharma: in the later stage of life, turning the mind toward tapas and withdrawing to the forest (vānaprastha) is considered appropriate, especially for a royal lineage that upholds traditional duties.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra declares his resolve to pursue austerity and to depart for the forest, presenting it as both his personal inclination and a fitting course for the Kuru family in life’s final phase.