Shloka 44
शल्यपर्वणि प्रथमाध्यायः — Karṇa-vadha-anantaraṃ Śalya-niyogaḥ, Saṃjayasya Dhṛtarāṣṭra-nivedanam
शनैरलभत प्राणान् पुत्रव्यसनकर्शित: । तत्पश्चात् पुत्रशोकसे पीड़ित हुए पृथ्वीपति राजा धृतराष्ट्रमें बड़ी कठिनाईसे धीरे-धीरे प्राणोंका संचार हुआ ।।
śanair alabhat prāṇān putravyasanakarśitaḥ | tatpaścāt putraśokena pīḍito bhūmipatiḥ rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ mahākaṣṭena dhīre-dhīre prāṇasañcāraṃ lebhe || labdhvā tu sa nṛpaḥ saṃjñāṃ vepamānaḥ suduḥkhitaḥ | cetanāṃ prāpya rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ atyanta-duḥkhī tharathar kāṃpane lage, sarvā diśaḥ avalokya viduraṃ prati evam uvāca— “vidvan! mahājñānī vidura! bharatabhūṣaṇa! adhunā tvam eva me putrahīnasya anāthasya sarvathā āśrayaḥ.” iti uktvā sa punaḥ acetanaḥ bhūmau papāta ||
毗湿摩波耶那说道：因诸子遭逢祸难而被磨损至极，持国（Dhṛtarāṣṭra）费尽艰难，才缓缓恢复了呼吸。继而，这位大地之主被丧子之痛折磨，渐渐回到清醒。可他一醒来便在极度悲苦中颤抖；环顾四方后，对毗度罗说道：“贤者啊——大智的毗度罗，婆罗多族的光饰——如今，我这失子无依之人，唯有你是我全部的归依。”说罢，他又昏厥过去，倒在地上。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the fragility of worldly power and the crushing aftermath of adharma-driven conflict: even a king becomes helpless when bound by attachment and loss. It also points to the ethical role of the wise counselor—Vidura—as a refuge grounded in discernment and dharma when familial and political supports collapse.
After hearing of the devastation of his sons, Dhritarashtra slowly revives, then trembles in overwhelming sorrow. He looks around in confusion and appeals to Vidura as his sole support, calling himself sonless and without refuge; immediately afterward, he faints again and falls to the ground.