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 ||
毗湿摩波耶那说：“我诛灭诸王，方得此国。正是在听取你那明智的劝告——那劝告出自婆苏提婆、世间最卓越之人——之后，我才走上这条道路。”
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.