Shloka 21
अध्याय १५ (Āśramavāsika-parva): धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनवासानुज्ञायाचनम् — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s renewed plea for consent to forest-dwelling
निहत्य पृथिवीपालानू् राज्यं प्राप्तमिदं मया | तव प्रज्ञामुपश्रुत्य वासुदेवान्नरर्षभात्
nihatya pṛthivīpālān rājyam prāptam idaṃ mayā | tava prajñām upaśrutya vāsudevān naraṛṣabhāt ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Sau khi hạ sát nhiều bậc quân vương, ta mới giành được vương quốc này. Chính là sau khi nghe lời khuyên minh triết của nàng—lời khuyên xuất phát từ Vāsudeva, bậc tối thượng trong loài người—ta mới dấn bước theo con đường ấy.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames political success (attaining a kingdom) as arising from heeding authoritative wisdom—ultimately traced to Vāsudeva—while also acknowledging the grave moral cost of violence against other rulers, inviting reflection on responsibility for actions done under counsel.
The speaker reports that the kingdom was gained after the destruction of many kings, and attributes the decision and resolve to guidance received—wisdom associated with Vāsudeva—thereby linking the outcome of conflict to counsel and its ethical implications.