धृतराष्ट्र
Also known as आजमीढः · कुरुपतिः
Dhritarashtra, son of Vichitravirya and Ambika, was born blind; elder brother of Pandu and king at Hastinapura, husband of Gandhari and father of the hundred Kauravas headed by Duryodhana. At SB 1.8.3 he sits stricken with grief after the war as 'lord of the Kurus', and Krishna consoles him by showing the irresistible course of Time. In SB 1.13, instructed by Vidura, he leaves home for ascetic life.
Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa 1.8.3 — Sanskrit Wikisource (pinned oldid=196197)
Dhritarashtra is the brother of Vidura. Source evidence (SB 1.13.29): Vidura is Dhritarashtra's younger brother: 'evam raja vidurenanujena' (SB 1.13.29) and 'bhratur jyeshthasya shreyaskrit' (SB 1.13.14), working the good of his elder brother. Evidence: EXPLICIT.
Dhritarashtra is the student of Vidura. Source evidence (SB 1.13.18): Vidura instructed Dhritarashtra to leave home: from 'rajan nirgamyatam shighram pashyedam bhayam agatam' (SB 1.13.18) to 'athodicim disham yatu' (SB 1.13.28); so awakened, he departed (SB 1.13.29). Direction: instructor -> instructed. Evidence: EXPLICIT.
Father Duryodhana KingDhritarashtra is the father of Duryodhana. Source evidence (SB 3.1.6): Duryodhana is the son of Dhritarashtra: at SB 3.1.6 the king is described as 'sva-sutAn asAdhUn puShNan' — nurturing his own wicked sons — and at 3.1.16 Vidura is struck 'bhrAtuH puraH', before his brother, by the son who insults him.
Husband Gandhari HumanDhritarashtra is the husband of Gandhari. Source evidence (SB 1.8.3): Gandhari is the wife of Dhritarashtra; SB 1.8.3 seats them together and calls her 'putra-shokarta', grieving for her sons, the Kauravas. Evidence: STRONG_CONTEXT.
'chittva sveshu sneha-pashan dradhimno nishcakrama bhratri-sandarshitadhva' (SB 1.13.29) — 'prajna-chakshuh', sightless yet seeing by wisdom.
'jitasano jita-shvasah pratyahrita-shad-indriyah' (SB 1.13.54); merger in Brahman by the pot-space analogy (SB 1.13.55); the body foretold to be given up on the fifth day (SB 1.13.57).
Dhritarashtra is described as given to tamas and as one whose sight adharma destroyed: 'tamo-juShANaH', 'adharmeNa vinaShTadR^iShTiH' (SB 3.1.6, 8).
