Shloka 13
Vyāsa’s Boon-Offer and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse in the Forest Assembly (आश्रमवासिक पर्व, अध्याय ३६)
वने स मुनिशि: सर्व: पूज्यमानो महातपा: । त्वगस्थिमात्रशेष: स षण्मासानभवन्नूप:
vane sa muniśiḥ sarvaḥ pūjyamāno mahātapāḥ | tvag-asthi-mātra-śeṣaḥ sa ṣaṇmāsān abhavan nūpaḥ ||
Wika ni Narada: “Sa gubat na iyon, ang lahat ng mga rishi na naninirahan doon ay nagbigay sa kanya ng natatanging paggalang. Ang dakilang asceta na si Dhritarashtra ay halos naging balangkas na lamang ng mga butong nababalutan ng balat; sa gayong kalagayan, anim na buwan niyang pinalipas.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic ideal that true honor follows inner discipline: when a former king embraces austerity and detachment, even forest sages revere him. It frames late-life renunciation as an ethical transformation from power to self-mastery.
Nārada describes Dhṛtarāṣṭra living in the forest among sages. The ascetics honor him, and his body becomes extremely emaciated—only skin and bones—while he continues his austerities for six months.