Shloka 296
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
भद्रं ते यादवीमातर्वचश्षेद॑ निबोध मे । अपने सुहृदोंसे ऐसा कहकर धृतराष्ट्र राजा युधिष्ठिससे बोले--“कुन्तीनन्दन! तुम्हारा कल्याण हो। तुम मेरी यह बात सुनो
bhadraṁ te yādavī-mātar vacaḥ śraddhā niboḍha me | apane suhṛdoṁ se aisā kahakara dhṛtarāṣṭra-rājā yudhiṣṭhir se बोले— “kuntī-nandana! tumhārā kalyāṇa ho. tum merī yaha bāta suno”
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच— भद्रं ते यादवीमातर्, वचः श्रद्धया निबोध मे। इत्युक्त्वा सुहृदः सर्वान्, ततः स राजा युधिष्ठिरम् उवाच— कुन्तीनन्दन, भद्रं ते; शृणु मे वचनम्॥
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds ethical communication: an elder begins counsel with blessings and respectful address, urging attentive listening. It models how admonition or guidance should be offered—without hostility, with goodwill (bhadra/kalyāṇa) and a call to careful understanding (niboḍha/śṛṇu).
In the Āśramavāsika context, Dhṛtarāṣṭra prepares to speak formally. He first addresses a revered woman connected with the Yādavas, then turns to Yudhiṣṭhira, blessing him and asking him to listen—signaling the start of an important statement or instruction.