Shloka 13
धृतराष्ट्रस्य स्पर्शाभिलाषः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Request for Touch and Permission for Tapas
हृष्टपुष्टबलो गच्छेद् राजा वृद्धयुदये रत: । अकृशश्वाप्यथो यायादनृतावपि पाण्डव,पाण्डुनन्दन! अपने अभ्युदयके लिये तत्पर रहनेवाला राजा यदि दुर्बल न हो और उसकी सेना हृष्ट-पुष्ट हो तो वह युद्धके अनुकूल मौसम न होनेपर भी शत्रुपर चढ़ाई करे
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | hṛṣṭapuṣṭabalo gacched rājā vṛddhyudaye rataḥ | akṛśaś cāpy atho yāyād anṛtāv api pāṇḍava pāṇḍunandana |
Wika ni Dhṛtarāṣṭra: “O Pāṇḍava, anak ni Pāṇḍu, ang haring masigasig sa sariling pag-angat at kasaganaan ay dapat magmartsa kapag ang kanyang mga kawal ay masigla, busog, at malalakas. Kung hindi siya nanghihina, maaari siyang lumusob sa kaaway kahit hindi kanais-nais ang panahon para sa digmaan.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a pragmatic strand of rājadharma: when a ruler is strong and his troops are vigorous and well-supplied, he may pursue political advantage even if conventional conditions (like the proper campaigning season) are not ideal. It highlights the tension between opportunistic statecraft and the ethical restraint expected of kings.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses a Pāṇḍava (son of Pāṇḍu) and articulates a principle of royal conduct: a king focused on his own ascendancy should march against an enemy when his strength and army’s morale are high, even if the timing is technically out of season for war.