Shloka 226

धृतराष्ट्र-सत्कारः तथा श्राद्ध-दाने नियमनम् | Honoring Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Regulating Śrāddha-Gifts

Devanagari script

आयूंषि पाण्डुपुत्राणामाशंसत नराधिप: । ब्राह्मणोंसे स्वस्तिवाचन कराकर अग्निमें हवन करनेके पश्चात्‌ राजा धृतराष्ट्र सदा यह शुभकामना करते थे कि पाण्डवोंकी आयु बढ़े

Transliteration

āyūṃṣi pāṇḍuputrāṇām āśaṃsata narādhipaḥ | brāhmaṇebhyaḥ svastivācanaṃ kārayitvā agnim̐ havanaṃ kṛtvā paścāt rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ sadā etāṃ śubhakāmanāṃ karoti sma—pāṇḍavānāṃ āyur vardhatām iti |

Translation

毗舍摩波耶那说道：持国王（Dhṛtarāṣṭra）希愿般度之子得享长寿，便令婆罗门宣诵吉祥祝词；又在圣火中投献供物之后，常在心中默祷：“愿般度五子（Pāṇḍava）的寿命增长。”此举显出这位老王转向达摩之道——以合乎仪轨的祭祀与真诚的善意，为昔日对手求福求安。

Word by Word

• आयूंषि: lifespans, lives
• आयूंषि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• पाण्डुपुत्राणाम्: of the sons of Pāṇḍu (the Pāṇḍavas)
• पाण्डुपुत्राणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डुपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• आशंसत: wished, prayed for
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-शंस्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नराधिपः: the king (lord of men)
• नराधिपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नराधिप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Pāṇḍuputras (Pāṇḍavas)
• Brāhmaṇas
• Agni (sacred fire)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even after conflict and loss, dharma can be reaffirmed through goodwill toward former rivals. Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s repeated benediction for the Pāṇḍavas’ long life models ethical reconciliation—turning from resentment to welfare-wishing, supported by disciplined ritual and intention.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that Dhṛtarāṣṭra regularly arranges brāhmaṇas to recite auspicious blessings and performs fire-offerings (homa). After these rites, he continually expresses the wish that the Pāṇḍavas’ lifespan may increase.