Shloka 70
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
मूर्धानं च तवाघ्रातुमिच्छामि मनुजाधिप । पाणिशभ्यां हि परिस्प्रष्टं प्रीणनं हि महन्मम
mūrdhānaṃ ca tavāghrātum icchāmi manujādhipa | pāṇibhyāṃ hi parisparṣṭuṃ prīṇanaṃ hi mahan mama ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra nói: “Hỡi bậc chúa tể loài người, ta muốn ngửi mùi trên đỉnh đầu con và muốn dùng cả hai tay chạm vào con trọn vẹn. Điều ấy đem lại cho ta niềm hoan hỷ và sự thỏa mãn sâu xa.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights reverence expressed through embodied gestures—touch and smelling the head—showing that dharmic relationships are sustained not only by words and duties but also by humility, affection, and honoring another’s person.
The narrator reports a speaker addressing a king with intimate respect, expressing a desire to smell the king’s head and touch him with both hands—acts that convey blessing, closeness, and heartfelt satisfaction in meeting or honoring him.