य चैनम् अन्ववर्तन्त भ्रातरो बलदर्पितम् ॥
शशाप तान् अपि क्रुद्धो ययातिस् तनयान् अथ ॥
यवीयांसं ततः पूरुं पुत्रं स्ववशवर्तिनम् ॥
राज्ये निवेशयाम् आस विधेयं नृपसत्तमः ॥
एवं ज्येष्ठो ऽप्य् अथोत्सिक्तो न राज्यम् अभिजायते ॥
यवीयांसो ऽभिजायन्ते राज्यं वृद्धोपसेवया ॥
तथैव सर्वधर्मज्ञः पितुर् मम पितामहः ॥
प्रतीपः पृथिवीपालस् त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः ॥
तस्य पार्थिवसिंहस्य राज्यं धर्मेण शासतः ॥
त्रयः प्रजज्ञिरे पुत्रा देवकल्पा यशस्विनः ॥
ya cainam anvavartanta bhrātaro baladarpitam ||
śaśāpa tān api kruddho yayātis tanayān atha ||
yavīyāṃsaṃ tataḥ pūruṃ putraṃ svavaśavartinam ||
rājye niveśayām āsa vidheyaṃ nṛpasattamaḥ ||
evaṃ jyeṣṭho 'py athotsikto na rājyam abhijāyate ||
yavīyāṃso 'bhijāyante rājyaṃ vṛddhopasevayā ||
tathaiva sarvadharmajñaḥ pitur mama pitāmahaḥ ||
pratīpaḥ pṛthivīpālas triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ ||
tasya pārthivasiṃhasya rājyaṃ dharmeṇa śāsataḥ ||
trayaḥ prajajñire putrā devakalpā yaśasvinaḥ ||
'And those brothers who followed him in his arrogance of strength, the enraged Yayati cursed as well — his own sons. Then the best of kings set upon the throne his youngest son, Puru, who was obedient and submissive to his will. Thus even the eldest, if he grows arrogant, does not obtain the kingdom; the younger obtain the kingdom through service to their elders. In just the same way, my father's father, Pratipa, protector of the earth, who knew all the dharmas, was renowned in the three worlds. To this lion among kings, who ruled his realm by dharma, three glorious sons were born, godlike in splendor.'
8bf16bc727c7 · published Jul 17, 2026, 6:17:17 AM UTC
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Dhritarashtra proves to Duryodhana the Pandavas' right not through abstract morality but through examples from their own family history. Seniority by itself does not confer power when dharma, the capacity to rule, and the consent of elders have been violated; legitimate succession belongs to the one who unites rightful claim with the qualities of a ruler.