Shloka 196
धृतराष्ट्र-सत्कारः तथा श्राद्ध-दाने नियमनम् | Honoring Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Regulating Śrāddha-Gifts
पूजयित्वा वचस्तत् तदकार्षीत् परवीरहा । महाराज! राजा धृतराष्ट्र और तपस्विनी गान्धारी देवी ये दोनों जो कोई भी छोटा या बड़ा कार्य करनेके लिये कहते
pūjayitvā vacas tat tadakārṣīt paravīrahā |
पूजयित्वा वचस्तेषां तदकार्षीत् परवीरहा । यत्किञ्चिदल्पं महद्वा धृतराष्ट्रोऽथ गान्धरी । आज्ञापयत् स धर्मात्मा शिरसा प्रतिगृह्य तत् । सम्यक् समापयामास युधिष्ठिरः शत्रुसूदनः ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True dharma after conflict is shown through humility and service: Yudhiṣṭhira treats the elders’ words as authoritative, honoring them and completing even minor tasks with care, demonstrating that power should be guided by reverence, restraint, and responsibility.
In the Āśramavāsika context, Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Gāndhārī are living in an ascetic mode; Yudhiṣṭhira, though king, attends to their requests. The verse describes his consistent practice of respectfully accepting and fulfilling whatever duties they assign.