Shloka 17
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
योऊहं दुष्टमतिं मन्दो ज्ञातीनां भयवर्धनम्
yo ’haṃ duṣṭamatiṃ mando jñātīnāṃ bhayavardhanam
திருதராஷ்டிரன் கூறினான்: “நான்—மந்த புத்தியும் கெட்ட தீர்மானமும் கொண்டவன்—என் சொந்த உறவினரிடையே அச்சத்தை வளர்த்தவனானேன்.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s moral failure is not only personal; distorted judgment and weakness of discernment can make one a source of fear to one’s own people. The verse highlights accountability: recognizing one’s role in harming kin through misguided counsel and character flaws.
In Āśramavāsika Parva, Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects on the aftermath of the Kurukṣetra catastrophe. Speaking in a tone of repentance, he condemns his own dullness and wrong-mindedness, admitting that his conduct and decisions intensified fear and suffering among his own relatives.