Shloka 173
दुर्योधनं कौरवाणामाधिपत्ये5 भ्यषेचयम् । दुर्योधनकी बुद्धिमें दुष्टता भरी थी। वह जाति-भाइयोंका भय बढ़ानेवाला था तो भी मुझ मूर्खने उसे कौरवोंके राजसिंहासनपर अभिषिक्त कर दिया
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | duryodhanaṃ kauravāṇām ādhipatye 'bhiṣecayam |
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच— दुर्योधनं कौरवाणामाधिपत्येऽभ्यषेचयम्। तस्य बुद्धिर्दुष्टतया परिपूर्णा बभूव; स च स्वजातिभ्यः भयवर्धनः। तथापि अहं मूढः कौरवाणां राजसिंहासने तमभिषिच्य न्यवेशयम्॥
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s moral failure is not only in committing wrong but also in empowering wrongdoing. Dhṛtarāṣṭra recognizes that installing a wicked heir out of attachment and delusion violates dharma and becomes a root cause of fear, injustice, and eventual ruin.
In Āśramavāsika Parva, Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects on past decisions after the war’s devastation. Here he admits that he crowned Duryodhana as leader of the Kauravas despite knowing his harmful disposition, acknowledging his own folly and responsibility.