Shloka 6
Vāraṇāvata-praveśa and Jatugṛha-saṃdeha
Entry into Vāraṇāvata and Suspicion of the Lac-House
स्पृहयाम्यद्य निर्वेदात् पुरुषाणां सचक्षुषाम् । अस्त्रहेतो: पराक्रान्तान् ये मे द्रक्ष्यन्ति पुत्रकान्,आज मैं नेत्रहीन होनेके कारण दुःखी होकर, जिनके पास आँँखें हैं, उन मनुष्योंके सुख और सौभाग्यको पानेके लिये तरस रहा हूँ; क्योंकि वे अस्त्र-कौशलका प्रदर्शन करनेके लिये भाँति-भाँतिके पराक्रम करनेवाले मेरे पुत्रोंकोी देखेंगे
spṛhayāmy adya nirvedāt puruṣāṇāṃ sacakṣuṣām | astr-hetoḥ parākrāntān ye me drakṣyanti putrakān ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra disse: “Hoje, abatido por minha cegueira, anseio pela boa fortuna dos homens que têm visão. Pois eles verão meus filhos—exibindo sua bravura de muitas maneiras por causa do treino em armas—enquanto eu, sendo cego, não posso.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how personal limitation (Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s blindness) and attachment to one’s children can generate envy and sorrow. Ethically, it foreshadows how unchecked attachment and longing for status or spectacle can cloud judgment in matters of dharma.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra expresses dejection that, unlike sighted people, he cannot witness his sons’ martial prowess and weapons-training demonstrations. He envies those who will be able to see the display that he, as a blind king, must miss.