01
Origins and family
Born blind, he was passed over for the throne but later ruled when Pandu withdrew to the forest.
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Character Chronicle
Mahabharata · Blind king of Hastinapura
Dhritarashtra
Kuru king torn between awareness of dharma and attachment to his sons, especially Duryodhana.
MahabharataBlind kingshipKnowing
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Biography
The story of Dhritarashtra
Dhritarashtra is kuru king torn between awareness of dharma and attachment to his sons, especially Duryodhana. Son of Vyasa and Ambika; husband of Gandhari; father of the Kauravas.
Born blind, he was passed over for the throne but later ruled when Pandu withdrew to the forest.
He repeatedly recognized Duryodhana's wrongdoing yet failed to restrain him, enabling the dice game and war.
During the conflict he received Sanjaya's divine narration and mourned the destruction of his line.
After the war he lived under Yudhishthira's care, retired to the forest and died in a wildfire.
Life journey
Four defining chapters
02
Rise and relationships
He repeatedly recognized Duryodhana's wrongdoing yet failed to restrain him, enabling the dice game and war.
03
Defining crisis
During the conflict he received Sanjaya's divine narration and mourned the destruction of his line.
04
Final phase and legacy
After the war he lived under Yudhishthira's care, retired to the forest and died in a wildfire.
Knowing what is right is not enough when attachment prevents action.
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