Shloka 61
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
इत्युक्त्वा स तु धर्मात्मा वृद्धों राजा कुरूद्वह: । गान्धारीं शिश्रिये धीमान् सहसैव गतासुवत्,ऐसा कहकर धर्मात्मा बूढ़े राजा कुरुकुलशिरोमणि बुद्धिमान धृतराष्ट्रने सहसा ही निर्जीवकी भाँति गान्धारीका सहारा ले लिया
ity uktvā sa tu dharmātmā vṛddho rājā kurūdvahaḥ | gāndhārīṃ śiśriye dhīmān sahasaiva gatāsuvat ||
इत्युक्त्वा स धर्मात्मा वृद्धो राजा कुरूद्वहः। धीमान् धृतराष्ट्रो गान्धारीं शिश्रिये सहसैव गतासुवत्।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and existential truth of human frailty: even a king, praised as dharmātmā and kurūdvahaḥ, becomes physically overwhelmed. It also points to dharma expressed through relational duty and compassion—Gāndhārī becomes the immediate support when strength fails.
After speaking (contextually, concluding a statement in the forest-ascetic setting of the Āśramavāsika narrative), the aged Dhṛtarāṣṭra suddenly loses strength and leans on Gāndhārī, appearing momentarily like one without life.