Shloka 35
धृतराष्ट्रस्य मूर्च्छा तथा द्रोणविषयकप्रश्नाः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Fainting and Questions Concerning Droṇa
न यस्य विजयाकाडूभक्षी विषयं प्राप्प जीवति । यं द्ौन जहत: शब्दौ जीवमानं कदाचन
na yasya vijayākāṅkṣī viṣayaṁ prāpya jīvati | yaṁ droṇo jahataḥ śabdau jīvamānaṁ kadācana ||
Vua Dhṛtarāṣṭra nói: “Kẻ nào, dẫu đã đạt được những điều mình ham muốn, vẫn không sống như kẻ đói khát chiến thắng—thì Droṇa, vào bất cứ lúc nào, cũng không nỡ rời bỏ người ấy khi người ấy còn sống.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts mere enjoyment of worldly gains with the relentless drive for victory expected in a war-leader’s context, implying that a commander like Droṇa does not ‘give up’ on a living warrior who remains committed and effective rather than complacent in pleasures.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra is speaking about Droṇa’s stance toward a particular warrior: as long as that person is alive and not dulled by sense-objects, Droṇa would not abandon him—reflecting the strategic and moral pressures within the Kuru war leadership.