Shloka 10
धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनप्रस्थानानुज्ञा | Permission for Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Forest-Retirement
सर्वप्रकृतिसांनिध्यं कारयित्वा स्ववेश्मनि | जानेके पहले मैं चाहता हूँ कि समस्त प्रजाको घरपर बुलाकर अपने मरे हुए उन जुआरी पुत्रोंके उद्देश्य्से उनके पारलौकिक लाभके लिये कुछ धन दान कर दूँ ।।
sarva-prakṛti-sānnidhyaṁ kārayitvā sva-veśmani | jāneke pahale maiṁ cāhatā hūṁ ki samasta-prajāko gharapar bulākara apane mare hue una juārī putroṁke uddheśyase unake pāralaukika lābhake liye kucha dhana dāna kara dūṁ || vaiśampāyana uvāca ity uktvā dharma-rājāya preṣayāmāsa vai tadā, ayaṁ ca kauravo rājā kuntī-putro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
Tendo providenciado, em sua própria residência, a presença de todos os oficiais do reino e dos homens de maior destaque, ele manifestou seu desejo: antes de qualquer coisa, queria convocar todo o povo à sua casa e, para o bem-estar no além de seus filhos falecidos—os que caíram por sua dependência do jogo—fazer doações de riqueza em caridade. Assim falando, enviou então recado a Dharmarāja, o rei Kaurava, Yudhiṣṭhira, filho de Kuntī.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical duty of a ruler to seek the welfare of others through dāna (charitable giving), even in the context of personal grief. It also underscores the idea of acting for ‘pāralaukika’ benefit—performing meritorious deeds dedicated to the departed—while acknowledging the destructive moral consequences of gambling.
A speaker (reported by Vaiśampāyana) describes a plan to gather officials and the populace at the royal residence and distribute wealth in charity for the otherworldly benefit of deceased sons characterized as gamblers. After stating this intention, a message is sent to Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, the Kuru king and son of Kuntī.