Shloka 5
Adhyāya 20 — Rājadharma Argument for Paternal Inheritance and Timely Conciliation
धृतराष्ट्रस्य ये पुत्रा: प्राप्तं तैः पैतृकं वसु । पाण्डुपुत्रा: कथं नाम न प्राप्ता: पैतृक वसु
dhṛtarāṣṭrasya ye putrāḥ prāptaṃ taiḥ paitṛkaṃ vasu | pāṇḍuputrāḥ kathaṃ nāma na prāptāḥ paitṛkaṃ vasu ||
திருதராஷ்டிரனின் புதல்வர்கள் பித்ருசொத்தைப் பெற்றுள்ளனர்; அப்படியிருக்க, பாண்டுவின் புதல்வர்கள் அதே பித்ருசொத்தை ஏன் பெறக்கூடாது?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma in matters of inheritance: when heirs share the same paternal line, denying one branch its rightful share is adharma and becomes a moral seed of larger conflict.
Vaiśampāyana highlights the central grievance behind the impending war: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons have taken control of the ancestral kingdom/wealth, while Pāṇḍu’s sons are excluded despite having an equal claim.