Shloka 21
द्वैपायनह्रदे दुर्योधनान्वेषणम् / The Search for Duryodhana at Dvaipāyana Lake
धृतराष्ट्रने पूछा--सूत! जब मेरी सेना मार डाली गयी और सारी छावनी सूनी कर दी गयी, उस समय पाण्डवोंकी सेनामें कितने सैनिक शेष रह गये थे? ।।
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca— sūta! yadā mama senā hatā sarvā ca śibirāṇi śūnyīkṛtāni, tadā pāṇḍavānāṃ senāyāṃ kati yodhāḥ śeṣā abhavan? etan me pṛcchato brūhi, kuśalo ’si sañjaya; yac ca duryodhano mandaḥ kṛtavāṃs tanayo mama.
持国王说道：“噢，苏多！当我的全军尽被诛灭，整个营寨化为荒寂之时，般度五子的军中还剩下多少战士？我所问之事，你当如实告我——噢，善迦耶，你善于传述。也请告诉我，我那愚钝的儿子难敌究竟做了什么。”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral blindness that follows attachment: Dhṛtarāṣṭra, even after catastrophic loss, focuses on numbers and on his son’s next move. It underscores how clinging to power and kinship can eclipse dharmic reflection and responsibility.
After the Kaurava forces and their camp have been devastated, Dhṛtarāṣṭra questions Sañjaya about the remaining strength of the Pāṇḍavas and asks what Duryodhana did next, setting up a report of the war’s late-stage developments.