धृतराष्ट्र उवाच
यथा भवान् वेद तथास्मि वेत्ता; भावाभावौ विदितौ मे यथावत् ॥
स्वार्थे हि संमुह्यति तात लोको; मां चापि लोकात्मकम् एव विद्धि ॥
प्रसादये त्वाम् अतुलप्रभावं; त्वं नो गतिर् दर्शयिता च धीरः ॥
न चापि ते वशगा मे महर्षे; न कल्मषं कर्तुम् इहार्हसे माम् ॥
त्वं हि धर्मः पवित्रं च यशः कीर्तिर् धृतिः स्मृतिः ॥
कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च मान्यश् चासि पितामहः ॥
व्यास उवाच
वैचित्रवीर्य नृपते यत् ते मनसि वर्तते ॥
अभिधत्स्व यथाकामं छेत्तास्मि तव संशयम् ॥
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच
यानि लिङ्गानि संग्रामे भवन्ति विजयिष्यताम् ॥
तानि सर्वाणि भगवञ् श्रोतुम् इच्छामि तत्त्वतः ॥
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca
yathā bhavān veda tathāsmi vettā; bhāvābhāvau viditau me yathāvat ||
svārthe hi saṃmuhyati tāta loko; māṃ cāpi lokātmakam eva viddhi ||
prasādaye tvām atulaprabhāvaṃ; tvaṃ no gatir darśayitā ca dhīraḥ ||
na cāpi te vaśagā me maharṣe; na kalmaṣaṃ kartum ihārhase mām ||
tvaṃ hi dharmaḥ pavitraṃ ca yaśaḥ kīrtir dhṛtiḥ smṛtiḥ ||
kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca mānyaś cāsi pitāmahaḥ ||
vyāsa uvāca
vaicitravīrya nṛpate yat te manasi vartate ||
abhidhatsva yathākāmaṃ chettāsmi tava saṃśayam ||
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca
yāni liṅgāni saṃgrāme bhavanti vijayiṣyatām ||
tāni sarvāṇi bhagavañ śrotum icchāmi tattvataḥ ||
Dhritarashtra said: "As you know, so I too know; arising and passing away are known to me as they truly are. But, O dear one, a man becomes confused where his own advantage is concerned; know that I too am like ordinary men. I beg your grace, O one of incomparable might. You are our path and the one who shows it, O wise one. But my sons are not subject to you, O great rishi; do not lay sin upon me here. For you are dharma, purity, glory, renown, steadfastness, and memory; you are the honored forefather of the Kurus and the Pandavas." Vyasa said: "O son of Vichitravirya, O king, tell me what is in your mind. Speak as you wish: I will dispel your doubt." Dhritarashtra said: "O blessed one, I wish to hear precisely all the signs that appear in battle in those who will be victorious."
2103da3870cd · published Jul 17, 2026, 8:37:17 PM UTC
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Dhritarashtra's answer reveals his weakness: he understands the truth but separates knowledge from action. He acknowledges Vyasa as the highest authority, yet at once absolves himself of responsibility for his sons. Hence his question about the signs of victory sounds like a retreat from moral decision into calculation of outcome.