Shloka 42
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
यो5हं भवन्न्तं दुःखार्तमुपवासकृशं भूशम् । जिताहारं क्षितिशयं न विन्दे भ्रातृभि: सह,आप दुःखसे आतुर और उपवास करनेके कारण अत्यन्त दुर्बल होकर पृथ्वीपर शयन कर रहे हैं तथा भोजनपर भी संयम कर लिया है और मैं भाइयोंसहित आपकी इस अवस्थाका पता ही न पा सका
yo 'haṁ bhavantaṁ duḥkhārtaṁ upavāsa-kṛśaṁ bhūśam | jitāhāraṁ kṣitiśayaṁ na vinde bhrātṛbhiḥ saha ||
Sabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Hindi ko kayo natagpuan—kahit hinanap ko kasama ng aking mga kapatid—samantalang kayo’y pinahihirapan ng dalamhati, payat na payat dahil sa pag-aayuno, nakahiga sa hubad na lupa, at namumuhay sa mahigpit na pagpipigil sa pagkain. Ang hindi ko pagkabatid sa inyong kalagayan ang siyang sanhi ng aking pagsisisi.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical responsibility toward elders and dependents: even a righteous king must remain vigilant to others’ suffering. It also frames fasting, restraint, and sleeping on the ground as marks of ascetic hardship that demand compassionate response rather than neglect.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses an honored person who has withdrawn into severe austerity—fasting, food-restraint, and sleeping on the earth—while burdened by grief. He laments that he and his brothers could not locate or learn of this condition in time.