Shloka 15
आदि पर्व — अध्याय 148: कुन्ती–ब्राह्मणसंवादः (दुःखमूल-प्रश्नः) / Kuntī and the Brahmin: Inquiry into the Root of Suffering
अहो धिग् धृतराष्ट्रस्थ बुद्धिनातिसमञ्जसा । यः शुचीन् पाण्डुदायादान् दाहयामास शत्रुवत्,पुरवासी बोले--अहो! पुरोचनका अन्तःकरण अपने वशमें नहीं था। उस पापीने दुर्योधनकी आज्ञासे अपने ही विनाशके लिये इस घरको बनवाया और जला भी दिया! अहो! धिककार है, धुृतराष्ट्रकी बुद्धि बहुत बिगड़ गयी है, जिसने शुद्ध हृदयवाले पाण्डुपुत्रोंको शत्रुकी भाँति आगमें जला दिया
aho dhig dhṛtarāṣṭrastha buddhir nātisamañjasā | yaḥ śucīn pāṇḍudāyādān dāhayāmāsa śatruvat ||
Disse Vaiśampāyana: “Ai—vergonha daquele conselho alinhado a Dhṛtarāṣṭra, tão tortuoso e insensato! Pois fez com que os herdeiros de Pāṇḍu, de coração puro, fossem queimados como inimigos.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns adharma in governance: when a ruler’s judgment becomes partisan and morally distorted, even innocent kin can be treated as enemies. It highlights ethical accountability—wrongful intent and complicity in violence invite public censure and moral disgrace.
In the context of the lac-house plot, the narration voices outrage that the Pāṇḍavas—described as ‘pure’ heirs of Pāṇḍu—were made targets of a burning scheme. The line frames the act as an enemy-like assault enabled by Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s side, underscoring the perceived injustice.