Shloka 186
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Śrāddha Request and Bhīma’s Objection (Āśramavāsika-parva, Adhyāya 17)
संध्यागतं सहस्रांशुमुपातिष्ठत भारत । भरतनन्दन! फिर बूढ़े राजा धृतराष्ट्रने भी अग्निको प्रकट एवं प्रज्वलित किया। त्रिविध अग्नियोंकी उपासना करके उनमें विधिपूर्वक आहुति दे राजाने संध्याकालिक सूर्यदेवका उपस्थान किया
saṃdhyāgataṃ sahasrāṃśum upātiṣṭhata bhārata | bharatanandana dhṛtarāṣṭro 'pi vṛddharājāgnim prakaṭya prajvālya trividham agnīn upāsya teṣu vidhivat āhutīr hutvā saṃdhyākālikaṃ sūryadevam upātiṣṭhat |
Vaiśaṃpāyana disse: “Ó Bhārata, quando o sol de mil raios chegou ao tempo do crepúsculo, o velho rei Dhṛtarāṣṭra também fez surgir e acendeu o fogo sagrado. Tendo venerado os três fogos e lançado neles as oblações segundo a regra, o rei realizou a reverência vespertina ao deus Sol.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even after great loss and moral failure, one can uphold dharma through disciplined daily duties—here, the evening worship and Vedic fire-rites—signaling steadiness, restraint, and a turn toward purification in the final phase of life.
At twilight, Dhṛtarāṣṭra kindles the sacred fires, worships the three ritual fires, offers oblations properly, and then performs the evening reverence to the Sun, as narrated by Vaiśaṃpāyana.