Shloka 17
धृतराष्ट्रस्य स्पर्शाभिलाषः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Request for Touch and Permission for Tapas
बल॑ प्रसादयेद् राजा निक्षिपेद् बलिनो नरान् | ज्ञात्वा स्वविषयं तत्र सामादिभिरुपक्रमेत्
balaṁ prasādayed rājā nikṣiped balino narān | jñātvā svaviṣayaṁ tatra sāmādibhir upakramet ||
持国王说道：“君王当以赏赐恩惠使军心欢悦，并招募强健能干之士。既明了自身权势与资财之所及，便当施行国策——先以和解等诸法为始——或求和，或兴师。”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must secure the loyalty and morale of the army through appropriate rewards, recruit capable strength, realistically assess his own resources, and then act through the classical policy sequence—starting with conciliation (sāma) and proceeding through other measures—toward peace or, if necessary, war.
In the Āśramavāsika context, Dhṛtarāṣṭra speaks in a reflective, advisory mode, articulating principles of kingship: maintaining military satisfaction, strengthening the force with able men, and choosing diplomatic or coercive strategies only after judging one’s true capacity.