Shloka 10
धृतराष्ट्रस्य स्पर्शाभिलाषः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Request for Touch and Permission for Tapas
आपददश्चापि बोद्धव्या बहुरूपा नराधिप | भवन्ति राज्ञा कौरव्य यास्ता: पृथगत: शूणु,महाराज! कुरुनन्दन! राजापर आनेवाली अनेक प्रकारकी आपत्तियाँ भी होती हैं, जिन्हें जानना चाहिये। अतः उनका पृथक्-पृथक् वर्णन सुनो
āpadaś cāpi boddhavyā bahurūpā narādhipa | bhavanti rājñā kauravya yās tāḥ pṛthagataḥ śṛṇu mahārāja kurunandana ||
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच—आपदश्चापि बोद्धव्या बहुरूपा नराधिप । भवन्ति राज्ञा कौरव्य यास्ताः पृथग् इदं शृणु ॥
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must deliberately study and recognize the many kinds of ‘āpada’ (crises). Ethical governance includes preparedness: understanding dangers in distinct categories so that one can respond with discernment rather than panic.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses a Kuru king/prince and introduces a structured discourse: he is about to enumerate, one by one, the various adversities that can befall a king, setting up a didactic section on royal conduct under crisis.