Shloka 223
एतच्छेयस्तु परमममन्यत जनार्दन: । समस्त राजाओंका विनाश देखते हुए गदाग्रज भगवान् श्रीकृष्णने यही परम कल्याणकारी माना कि मैं पाण्डवोंका राज्य उन्हें लौटा दूँ; परंतु मैं वैसा नहीं कर सका
etac chreyas tu paramam amanyata janārdanaḥ | samasta-rājānāṁ vināśaṁ dṛṣṭvā gadāgrajo bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇaḥ etad eva parama-kalyāṇakārī manyamānaḥ—ahaṁ pāṇḍavānāṁ rājyaṁ tebhyaḥ pratyarpayiṣyāmīti; kintu ahaṁ tathā kartum aśakam |
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच— एतदेव परमं श्रेय इति जनार्दनः सममन्यत। बहूनां राज्ञां विनाशं दृष्ट्वा भगवान् श्रीकृष्णो गदाग्रजः, मया पाण्डवेभ्यः राज्यं प्रत्यर्पणीयमिति परमकल्याणकरं मन्यत; किन्तु तदनुष्ठातुं नाशक्नवम्॥
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even after catastrophic loss, the ethically superior path (śreyas) is restitution and justice—returning what is rightfully due. Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s confession highlights how attachment and weakness can prevent one from choosing the highest good, despite clear counsel from Kṛṣṇa.
In the reflective aftermath of the great war’s devastation, Dhṛtarāṣṭra recalls that Kṛṣṇa regarded restoring the kingdom to the Pāṇḍavas as the most beneficial course, given the widespread destruction of kings. Dhṛtarāṣṭra admits he failed to carry out that corrective act.