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
ity uktvā sa tu dharmātmā vṛddho rājā kurūdvahaḥ | gāndhārīṃ śiśriye dhīmān sahasaiva gatāsuvat ||
ครั้นกล่าวดังนั้นแล้ว พระราชาผู้ทรงธรรม ชราภาพ ผู้เป็นยอดแห่งกุรุ คือธฤตราษฏระผู้มีปัญญา ก็เอนพิงคานธารีในทันใด ราวกับไร้ลมหายใจ
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.