Shloka 43
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Restraint and the Pāṇḍavas’ Authorized Return (धृतराष्ट्र-उपदेशः)
(बाह्लीक: सोमदत्तश्न प्रातीपेय: ससंजय: । द्रौणिभूरिश्रवाश्वैव युयुत्सुर्धतराष्ट्रज: ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
bāhlīkaḥ somadattaś ca prātīpeyaḥ sa sañjayaḥ |
drauṇir bhūriśravāś caiva yuyutsuś dhṛtarāṣṭrajaḥ ||
hastau piṁṣann adhovaktrā niḥśvasanta iva oragāḥ ||
dhṛtarāṣṭras tu taṁ hṛṣṭaḥ paryapṛcchat punaḥ punaḥ |
kiṁ jitaṁ kiṁ jitam iti hy ākāraṁ nābhyarakṣata ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Sina Bāhlīka, Somadatta na apo ni Pratīpa, Sañjaya, si Aśvatthāman na anak ni Droṇa, si Bhūriśravas, at si Yuyutsu na anak ni Dhṛtarāṣṭra—lahat sila’y nakayuko, humihinga nang mahahaba na parang mga ahas, at kinikiskis ang kanilang dalawang kamay. Ngunit si Dhṛtarāṣṭra, palihim na nagagalak, ay paulit-ulit na nagtanong: “Ano ang napanalunan? Ano ang napanalunan?”—at hindi niya naitago ang mga palatandaan ng kaniyang tuwa.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how attachment and partisanship distort judgment: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s eagerness for his side’s success becomes visible despite attempts at restraint. Ethically, it contrasts the ideal of royal self-control and impartiality with the reality of desire-driven conduct.
A group of Kuru-aligned elders and warriors sit in tense discomfort—downcast, rubbing their hands, breathing like snakes—while Dhṛtarāṣṭra, pleased within, repeatedly asks for news of victory, unable to hide his excitement.