anyathā tv ācaran loke

garhito yāsyase tamaḥ

tasmāt samatve vartasva

pāṇḍaveṣv ātmajeṣu ca

anyatha -- otherwise; tu -- however; acaran -- acting; loke -- in this world; garhitah -- condemned; yasyase -- you will attain; tamah -- darkness; tasmat -- therefore; samatve -- in equanimity; vartasva -- remain situated; pandaveshu -- toward the Pandavas; atma-jeshu -- toward your sons; ca -- and.


Texto

If you act otherwise, however, people will condemn you in this world, and in the next life you will enter the darkness of hell. Remain equally disposed, therefore, toward Pandu's sons and your own.

Significado

Dhritarashtra's whole problem was his excessive attachment to his nasty sons. That was the fatal flaw that caused his downfall. There was no lack of good advice from all sides, and Dhritarashtra even admitted that the advice was sound, but he could not follow it. One can have clear, practical intelligence when the mind and heart are pure.