कच्चिद् राजा धृतराष्ट्रः सपुत्र; उपेक्षते ब्राह्मणातिक्रमान् वै ॥
कच्चिन् न हेतोर् इव वर्त्मभूत; उपेक्षते तेषु स न्यूनवृत्तिम् ॥
एतज् ज्योतिर् उत्तमं जीवलोके; शुक्लं प्रजानां विहितं विधात्रा ॥
ते चेल् लोभं न नियच्छन्ति मन्दाः; कृत्स्नो नाशो भविता कौरवाणाम् ॥
कच्चिद् राजा धृतराष्ट्रः सपुत्रो; बुभूषते वृत्तिम् अमात्यवर्गे ॥
कच्चिन् न भेदेन जिजीविषन्ति; सुहृद्रूपा दुर्हृदश् चैकमित्राः ॥
कच्चिन् न पापं कथयन्ति तात; ते पाण्डवानां कुरवः सर्व एव ॥
कच्चिद् दृष्ट्वा दस्युसंघान् समेतान्; स्मरन्ति पार्थस्य युधां प्रणेतुः ॥
मौर्वीभुजाग्रप्रहितान् स्म तात; दोधूयमानेन धनुर्धरेण ॥
गाण्डीवमुक्तान् स्तनयित्नुघोषान्; अजिह्मगान् कच्चिद् अनुस्मरन्ति ॥
kaccid rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ saputra; upekṣate brāhmaṇātikramān vai ||
kaccin na hetor iva vartmabhūta; upekṣate teṣu sa nyūnavṛttim ||
etaj jyotir uttamaṃ jīvaloke; śuklaṃ prajānāṃ vihitaṃ vidhātrā ||
te cel lobhaṃ na niyacchanti mandāḥ; kṛtsno nāśo bhavitā kauravāṇām ||
kaccid rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ saputro; bubhūṣate vṛttim amātyavarge ||
kaccin na bhedena jijīviṣanti; suhṛdrūpā durhṛdaś caikamitrāḥ ||
kaccin na pāpaṃ kathayanti tāta; te pāṇḍavānāṃ kuravaḥ sarva eva ||
kaccid dṛṣṭvā dasyusaṃghān sametān; smaranti pārthasya yudhāṃ praṇetuḥ ||
maurvībhujāgraprahitān sma tāta; dodhūyamānena dhanurdhareṇa ||
gāṇḍīvamuktān stanayitnughoṣān; ajihmagān kaccid anusmaranti ||
I hope, O Sanjaya, that the son of Dhritarashtra has not seized the gifts I made to the brahmins. I hope Dhritarashtra and his sons show forbearance toward any overbearing conduct on the part of the brahmins. I hope he never forgets to care for them, since this is the sole path to heaven. For this is the supreme and clear light bestowed by the Creator upon this world of living beings. If the sons of Kuru, like dull-witted men, fail to show forbearance toward the brahmins, utter destruction shall befall them. I hope King Dhritarashtra and his son endeavor to provide for the officers of state. I hope they have no enemies who, under the guise of friends, plot their ruin. My lord, I hope none of these Kurus speaks of our offenses. I hope Drona, his son, and the heroic Kripa in no way speak ill of us. I hope all the Kurus look upon King Dhritarashtra and his sons as the protectors of their clan.
07045c3fd62c · published Jul 17, 2026, 3:43:08 AM UTC
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This passage (5.23.16-20) develops the central theme of the Udyoga-parva: the effort toward peace is already underway against the backdrop of an inevitable war. Key themes: the Pandavas, Dhritarashtra. Dharma is revealed here through speech, the choice of embassy, faithfulness to promises, and the responsibility of kings for the consequences of their decisions.