Shloka 35
धृतराष्ट्रस्य मूर्च्छा तथा द्रोणविषयकप्रश्नाः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Fainting and Questions Concerning Droṇa
न यस्य विजयाकाडूभक्षी विषयं प्राप्प जीवति । यं द्ौन जहत: शब्दौ जीवमानं कदाचन
na yasya vijayākāṅkṣī viṣayaṁ prāpya jīvati | yaṁ droṇo jahataḥ śabdau jīvamānaṁ kadācana ||
ਧ੍ਰਿਤਰਾਸ਼ਟਰ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ— ਜੋ ਇੱਛਿਤ ਵਿਸ਼ੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਵੀ ਜਿੱਤ ਦੀ ਭੁੱਖ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਹੀਂ ਜੀਉਂਦਾ, ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਦ੍ਰੋਣ ਜਦ ਤੱਕ ਉਹ ਜੀਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਦੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਛੱਡਦਾ; ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਉਹ ਜੀਵਨ-ਕਾਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਦੇ ਤਿਆਗਦਾ ਨਹੀਂ।
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts mere enjoyment of worldly gains with the relentless drive for victory expected in a war-leader’s context, implying that a commander like Droṇa does not ‘give up’ on a living warrior who remains committed and effective rather than complacent in pleasures.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra is speaking about Droṇa’s stance toward a particular warrior: as long as that person is alive and not dulled by sense-objects, Droṇa would not abandon him—reflecting the strategic and moral pressures within the Kuru war leadership.