# धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/dhritarashtra

धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) is a Sanskrit word meaning whose empire is firm or a powerful king, an epithet of a Naga also called Airavata, a Deva-gandharva sometimes identified with King Dharma, of a son of the Daitya Bali, of a king of Kashi, a son of Janamejaya. Its 29 recorded definitions are grouped into 9 contexts, among them The Kuru King Dhṛtarāṣṭra (father of Kauravas), Dhṛtarāṣṭra, a Nāga or Serpent King, Other Kings Named Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

- **Etymology:** E. धृत possessed, cherished, (by whom,) राष्ट्र a region — E. dhṛta possessed, cherished, (by whom,) rāṣṭra a region
- **SLP1:** `DftarAzwra`  **IAST:** dhṛtarāṣṭra  **Devanagari:** धृतराष्ट्र
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhritarashtra
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/dhritarashtra/declensions.md

## Meanings by context

### The Kuru King Dhṛtarāṣṭra (father of Kauravas) (8 definitions)
- the eldest son of Vyasa by the widow of Vicitravirya, who was the brother of Pandu and Vidura, born blind, husband of Gandhari, and father of Duryodhana and one hundred other sons  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of the eldest son of Vyāsa by the widow of Vicitra-vīrya (brother of Pāṇḍu and Vidura and born blind, husband of Gāndhāri and father of 100 sons of whom the eldest was Dur-yodhana; sometimes identified with Dhṛta-rāṣṭra and Haṃsa, 2 chiefs of the Gandharvas), Mahābhārata (Title) [ ID=101858 ]
- 1. Dhritarashtra, a proper name. 2. A good king. 3. A serpent of the lower regions. 4. A kind of goose.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > धृत (dhṛta) राष्ट्र (rāṣṭra) (dhṛtarāṣṭra) [Printed book page 447 ] धृत (dhṛta) राष्ट्र (rāṣṭra) (dhṛtarāṣṭra) m. ( - ष्ट्रः (-ṣṭraḥ) ) A proper name; DHṚTARĀṢṬRA, the father of DURYODHANA, and uncle of the Pāṇḍu princes. 2 A good king. 3 A Nāga or serpent of the lower regions. 4 A kind of bird, perhaps a sort of goose: see धार्त्तराष्ट्र (rāṣṭra) (dhārttarāṣṭra). f. ( - री (-rī) ) A goose, the female bird only. E. धृत (dhṛta) possessed, cherished, (by whom,) राष्ट्र (rāṣṭra) a region. [ ID=20767 ]
- 1. The name of the blind king of Hastinapura, father of Duryodhana. 2. A good king. 3. A serpent of the lower regions. 4. A kind of goose.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > धृत (dhṛta) राष्ट्र (rāṣṭra) (dhṛtarāṣṭra) [Printed book page 372-b ] धृत (dhṛta) राष्ट्र (rāṣṭra) (dhṛtarāṣṭra) m. ( - ष्ट्रः (-ṣṭraḥ) ) A proper name; DHRITARĀSHṬRA, the father of DŪRYODHANA, and uncle of the Paṇḍu princes. 2. A good king. 3. A Nāgā or serpent of the lower regions. 4. A kind of bird, perhaps a short of goose: see धार्त्तराष्ट्र (rāṣṭra) (dhārttarāṣṭra). f. ( - री (-rī) ) A goose, the female bird only. E. धृत (dhṛta) possessed, cherished, (by whom,) राष्ट्र (rāṣṭra) a region. [ ID=20753 ]
- 1. The father of Duryodhana and uncle of the Pandu princes. 2. A proper name.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) [Printed book page 0447-a ] धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) dhṛta-rāṣṭra, m. 1. The father of Duryodhana and uncle of the Pāṇḍu princes, MBh. 1, 95. 2. A fre- quent proper name. [ ID=7081 ]
- 1. An ancient king and older brother of Pandu. 2. His sons in the plural.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) [Printed book page 256 ] धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) m. N. of an ancient king, the elder brother of Pāṇḍu ( pl. his sons). [ ID=15531 ]
- 1. Son of Vyasa and Ambika, born blind. 2. Father of Duryodhana and one hundred other sons and a daughter by Gandhārī, and Yuyutsu by a vaishya woman. 3. Reborn Gandharva king Hamsa.  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) [Printed book page 250-1 ] Dhṛtarāṣṭra 1, son of Vyāsa with Ambikā, the widow of Vicitravīrya. § 4 (Anukram.): I, 1, 95 (all. to § 171), †108, 135, 136, 140, 217, 218.—§ 7 (do.): I, 1, 245.—§ 10 (Parvasaṅgr.): I, 2, 330.—§ 11 (do.): I, 2, 376, 413, 421, 434, 501, 502, 503, 582, 583, 584, 585, 611.—§ 70 (Ādivaṃ- śāvatāraṇap.): I, 60, 2213 (son of Vyāsa).—§ 71 (do.): I, 61, 2247, 2251, 2261.—§ 83 (Ādivaṃśāvatāraṇa): I, 63, 2441 (son of Vyāsa), 2446 (father of 100 sons, of whom eleven are enumerated).—§ 130 (Aṃśāvat.): I, 67, 2719 ( c : The Gandharva king Haṃsa, son of Ariṣṭā, was reborn as Dh., the son of Vyāsa. Dh. became blind in consequence of a fault of his mother and the wrath of Vyāsa, cf. § 171), 2727 (enumeration of the names of Dh.'s 101 sons and his daughter).—§ 157 (Pūruvaṃś.): I, 95, ††3808 (son of Vyāsa), ††3809 (father of 100 sons), ††3810.—§ 158 (do.): I, 95, ††3822.—§ 171 (Vicitravīryasutotpatti): I, 106, 4301 (Vyāsa begat sons with the widows of Vicitravīrya, Dhṛtarāṣṭra with Ambikā, Pāṇḍu with Ambalikā. Dh. was born blind because his mother had closed her eyes when Vyāsa approached her; afterwards Vyāsa begat Vidura with the maid of Ambikā).—§ 173 (Pāṇḍurājyābhiṣeka): I, 109, 4353, 4357, 4361 (on account of Dh.'s blindness Pāṇḍu became king).—§ 174 (Dhṛtarāṣṭravivāha): I, 110, 4374, 4375, 4378 (married Gāndhārī, the daughter of Subala). —§ 177 (Pāṇḍudigvijaya): I, 113, 4446.—§ 178 (Pāṇḍu): I, 114, 4469, 4473, 4479.—§ 180 (Gāndhārīputrotpatti): I, 115, 4483, 4490, 4493, 4510, 4519, 4520, 4521, 4522 ( Dh. begat 100 sons with Gāndhārī and the son Yuyutsu with a vaiśya woman).—§ 181 (Duḥśalotpatti): I, 116, 4523 (had the daughter Duḥśalā).—§ 182 (Dhṛtarāṣṭraputra- nāmak.): I, 117, 4540 ( °sya putrān, enumeration of Dh.'s 101 sons), 4556 (gave wives to his sons), 4557 (married his daughter Duḥśalā to the Sindhu king Jayadratha).—§ 184 (Pāṇḍu): I, 119, 4634.—§ 194 (do.): I, 126, 4902 (after the death of Pāṇḍu the five Pāṇḍavas were brought back to Hāstinapura), 4913 ( °sya dāyādāḥ ).—§ 195 (do.): I, 127, (4932).—§ 208 (Astradarśana): I, 134, 5312 ( janeśvaraṃ ), (5315), 5346; 135, 5360, (5363).—§ 210 (Sambhavap.): I, 139, 5517 (installed Yudhiṣṭhira as yuvarāja).—§ 211 (do.): I, 139, 5541 (became afraid of the prowess of the Pāṇḍavas).—§ 212 (Kaṇikavākya): I, 140, 5543 ( mahīpālaḥ ), 5544, (5545), (5566), 5634 ( Kauravyaḥ, his discourse with Kaṇika).—§ 213 (Jatugṛhap.): I, 141, 5636 ( Kauravyaṃ ), 5640, 5649, 5659, 5662, 5664; 142, 5673, 5675, 5676, (5677), (5687); 143, 5697, 5699, (5702), 5706, 5710 (persuades the Pāṇḍavas to set out for Vāraṇāvata); 144, Page250-b+ 63 5720; 145, 5735 ( rājñaḥ ), 5740 ( Kauravyaḥ ), 5742, 5745; 148, 5833; 150, 5861, 5864, 5865, 5870 ( Ambikāsutaḥ, offered oblations of water to the Pāṇḍavas, who were thought to have been burnt to death); 151, 5917.—§ 235 (Svayaṃ- varap.): I, 191, †7154 ( °sya putraḥ, i.e. Duryodhana).— § 237 (Vaivāhikap.): I, 195, 7233 ( nareśvaraṃ ).—§ 241 (Vidurāgamanap.): I, 200, 7371 ( Kauravaṃ ), 7381, (7387), 7391; 201, (7396); 202, 7437, 7440; 203, 7441, 7442; 204, 7460.—§ 243 (do.): I, 206, (7518), 7524, 7529, 7533, 7537, 7543 (consents to give the Pāṇḍavas the half of the kingdom).—§ 244 (Rājyalābhap.): I, 207, 7556, 7565, 7566, 7567, (7568).—§ 245 (do.): I, 208, 7600.—§ 254 (Khāṇḍa- vadahanap.): I, 222, 8050 ( rājñaḥ ).—§ 286 (Rājasūyikap.): II, 33, 1259.—§ 287 (do.): II, 34, 1260, 1264 (came to the rājasūya of Yudhiṣṭhira).—§ 288 (do.): II, 35, 1293. —§ 292 (do.): II, 45 α, 1607 (accompanied by Bhīmasena). —§ 294 (Dyūtap.): II, 47, 1681 ( °sya putraḥ, i.e. Duryo- dhana), 1701; 48, 1724 ( Kurumukhyāya ); 49, 1727 ( janādhipaṃ ), (1730), 1766, (1768), 1772, 1775, 1777, (1780); 50, 1790 ( Ambikāsutaḥ, sends Vidura to invite Yudhiṣṭhira to the gambling, but then advises Duryodhana to desist from the gambling).—§ 297 (do.): II, 54, (1934).—§ 298 (do.): II, 56, (1970), (1975), (†1979), †1981, †1985; 57, 1987, (†1990) (sends Vidura to Yudhiṣṭhira); 58, †1992, †1995, †2000, †2006, 2012, 2018, 2024 ( snuṣās tā Dh°sya ); 60, 2051; 63, †2111 ( °sya putraḥ, i.e. Duryodhana); 65, 2183.—§ 299 (do.): II, 66, †2190 ( °sya putraḥ, i.e. Duryo- dhana), †2195 (do.), †2196 (do.); 67, †2198 (do.), †2201; 68, 2263, 2306.—§ 301 (do.): II, 70, †2362 ( °sya putraḥ, i.e. Duryodhana); 71, †2401, (†2404), †2405, (2406), (2410), (2412); 72, 2432; 73, 2434 (when Yudhiṣṭhira had lost his brothers and himself at dice, Dh. granted Draupadī their liberty).—§ 302 (Anudyūtap.): II, 74, 2453, 2457 ( Vaicitra- vīryaṃ ), (2475), 2478 (summoned again Yudhiṣṭhira to come to gamble).—§ 303 (do.): II, 75, 2479; 76, 2491.— § 304 (do.): II, 77, †2527 ( °sya putraḥ, i.e. Duḥśāsana), 2559.—§ 305 (do.): II, 78, 2561; 79, 2617, 2619.— § 306 (do.): II, 80, 2620 ( Ambikāsutaḥ ), (2621), (2628), 2651, 2670 (discourse with Vidura, etc.).—§ 307 (do.): II, 81, 2672, 2673, (2675), (2689) (discourse with Sañjaya). —§ 311 (Āraṇyakap.): III, 4, (†220), (†235), †239 (dis- misses Vidura).—§ 312 (do.): III, 5, †250, †251, †252, †255, †256, †257.—§ 313 (do.): III, 6, 262, 277 ( Aṃbikā- sutaḥ ), 280, 286 (calls Vidura back); 7, 289 ( mantrī Dh°sya ); 8, 311; 9, (323).—§ 315 (Maitreyaśāpa): III, 10, (346), 353 ( Ambikāsutaḥ ), 380.—§ 316 (Kirmīravadhap.): III, 11, (385).—§ 317 (Arjunābhigamanap.): III, 12, 525 ( °sya …snuṣā, i.e. Draupadī).—§ 327 (Draupadīparitāp.): III, 34, †1356 ( °sya putrāt, i.e. Duryodhana), †1360 ( °sya putraḥ = do.), †1361 (do.); 35, 1405.—§ 330 (Indradarśana): III, 37, 1461 ( °sya putreṇa, i.e. Duryodhana).—§ 340 (Indralokābhigamanap.): III, 48, 1914, (1916); 49, (1945). —§ 341 (do.): III, 50, 1955.—§ 342 (do.): III, 51, 1968 ( Ambikāsutaḥ ), (2011).—§ 377 (Dhaumyatīrthak.): III, 86, 8283 ( °sya putreṇa, i.e. Duryodhana).—§ 378 (Tīrthayātrāp.): III, 92, 8453.—§ 446 (Nivātakavacayuddhap.): III, 174, 12287 ( °sya putrān ).—§ 450 (Ājagarap.): III, 179, 12429 ( °sya putraṃ, i.e. Duryodhana).—§ 512 (Ghoṣayātrāp.): III, 237, 14772; 238, 14798; 239, 14820, 14821, 14822, (14825), 14841 (permitted Duryodhana, etc., to undertake the ghoṣayātrā); 242, 14942 ( °sya putrāṇāṃ ).—§ 515 (Karṇadigvijaya): III, 254, 15264, 15270, 15271.—§ 516 (Duryodhanayajña): III, 255, 15286; 256, 15302, 15318.— Page251-a+ 63 § 547 (Karṇa): III, 309, 17153 ( °sya sakhā, i.e. Adhi- ratha).—§ 554 (Sainyodyogap.): V, 1, †16 ( °sya putraiḥ ); 3, 60 ( °sya putraṃ, i.e. Duryodhana), 62; 4, 65, 88, 89; 5, 95; 6, 113, 116, 122.—§ 556 (Sañjayayānap.): V, 20, 603, 606, 607 ( °sya ye putrāḥ ); 21, 641; 22, (†645), †682 (sends Sañjaya to the Pāṇḍavas); 23, 685, †688, †693, †700, †702, †704, †712 ( °sya putraṃ, i.e. Duryodhana); 24, †715, †722; 25, †723, †726; 26, †743, †748, †749, †750, †752, †753, †756, †757; 29, †809, †811, †840 ( °sya putraḥ, i.e. Duryodhana), †841 ( °sya putre = do.), †846, †860, †862, †865; 30, †875, †883 ( jyeṣṭhaḥ putro Dh°sya ), †906; 31, 919; 32, 939, 941, (†944), (†948), (†970) (Sañjaya's return). —§ 557 (Prajāgarap.): V, 33, 971, 972, (975), 977, (979), (985), 986, 1071; 34, (1094), 1178.—§ 558 (do.): V, 35, 1181.—§ 559 (Prajāgarap.): V, 36, (†1281), (†1308), 1319, 1320; 37, (1342); 39, (1446), 1453, (1454), 1529; 40, (1562) (discourse with Vidura).—§ 560 (Sanatsujātap.): V, 41, (1565), 1566, (1568), (1571), 1574; 42, 1577, (1578), (†1592), (†1594), (†1597), (†1601); 43, (†1621), (†1623), (†1626), (†1631), (1634), (1661); 44, (†1684), (†1686), (†1688), (†1708) (discourse with Sanatsujāta). —§ 561 (Yānasandhip.): V, 47, 1793 ( °mukhāḥ ), (α), 1798, 1808; 48, (†1809), †1861 ( °sya putraḥ, i.e. Duryodhana); 49, 1949, 1951, 1961; 50, (1967), (1975), (1979), 1980; 51, (2018); 52, (2085); 53, (2106); 55, 2151, 2158; 57, (2232), (2257), (2274); 58, (2295), (2313); 59, (2324), 2345; 64, 2468, 2481; 65, (2482); 66, 2498, (εε), 2501; 67, (†2516), 2522; 69, (2538), (2542), (2544), (2546), 2549, 2544; 70, (2560); 71, (2574) ( Dh. wishes to keep peace with the Pāṇḍavas).—§ 562 (Bhagavadyānap.): V, 72, 2586, 2587, 2589, 2590, 2591, 2655; 73, 2708; 77, 2796; 78, 2803; 80, 2860; 82, 2875 ( °sya putreṇa, i.e. Duryodhana), 2900; 83, 2924, 2965 ( Kauravyaḥ ); 85, 3022, 3032, 3038; 86, (3040); 88, 3093, 3094, 3096; 89, 3111, 3115, 3118, 3119 ( °purohitāḥ ), 3121; 90 ρ, 3180; 91, 3250 ( sambandhī dayitaś cāsi Dh°sya, Mādhava, i.e. Kṛṣṇa); 92, †3300 ( °sya putraḥ, i.e. Duryodhana); 94, 3337, 3364, 3366, 3367; 95, 3385. —§ 567 (do.): V, 124, (4121), (β), 4137, 4183; 125, 4190, 4208; 126, 4214; 127, 4255; 128, 4284; 129, 4309, 4314, (4315), 4319, 4322, 4325; 130, 4367, 4372, 4376, 4381, 4387, 4393, 4396, 4403; 131, (4434), 4436, 4437, 4438, 4448, (π), 4453, 4455, (ρ), 4457.—§ 569 (do.): V, 140, (4726); 141, 4767 ( °kule ), 4805; 146, 4946 ( °sya putrānāṃ ); 147, 4963; 148, 5005, 5008, 5009, 5012, 5024, 5027, †5034, †5039; 149, 5040; 150, 5077, 5083, 5091.—§ 570 (Sainyaniryāṇap.): V, 159, 5392 (Sañjaya relates the events of the battle to Dhṛtarāṣṭra from here to X, 9, incl.).—§ 571 (Ulūkadūtāgamanap.): V, 162, 5610, 5611.—§ 572 (Rathātirathasaṅkhyānap.): V, 165, 5714.— § 573 (Ambopākhyānap.): V, 196, 7634 ( °sya putrāṇāṃ ).— § 574 (Jambūkh.): VI, 2, (42), 49; 3, 115, 118, 127, (128), (132); 4, 155; 5, (176); 6, (194); 7, (253); 8, (287), 305; 9, (309); 10, (385) (Sañjaya describes to Dh. the earth, etc.).—§ 575 (Bhūmip.): VI, 11, (401), (413), (421); 12, (480) (continuation).—§ 576 (Bhagavadgītāp.): VI, 13, 496; 14, (508); 19, (695), 717 ( °sya dāyādāḥ ); 20, (†741); 24, (822); 25, (830); 35, †1272 ( °sya putrāḥ ).—§ 577 (Bhīṣmavadhap.): VI, 43, 1626 ( trayi —i.e. in Yuyutsu— tantuś ca piṇḍaś ca Dh°sya dṛśyate ).—§ 578 (do.): VI, 44, (1638); 48, (1868); 49, (1985).—§ 579 (do.): VI, 52, (2121); 53, (2194); 54, (2235); 59, (2508).—§ 580 (do.): VI, 62, (2716); 65, (2898).—§ 583 (do.): VI, 76, Page251-b+ 63 (3314).—§ 584 (do.): VI, 83, (3639).—§ 585 (do.): VI, 89, (3931); 91, (4064); 96, 4325.—§ 586 (do.): VI, 101, (4584); 102, (4643); 103, 4721.—§ 587 (do.): VI, 108, (4994), (5017); 109, (5055); 115, (5335); 120, (5689).— § 589 (Droṇābhiṣekap.): VII, 1, 3, 6, 8, (10), 47, (48); 9, (261); 10, 306, (312); 11, (382).—§ 590 (do.): VII, 15, (582).—§ 592 (Saṃśaptakavadhap.): VII, 22, (920); 23, (950); 24, (1046); 26, (1129); 29, (1256); 31, (1344).—§ 593 (Abhimanyuvadhap.): VII, 33, (1475); 34, (1492); 38, (1623); 39, (1646); 40, 1679; 42, (1741), (1749); 46, (1833); 47, 1861.—§ 596 (Pratijñāp.): VII, 79, 2789 ( °sya putreṇa, i.e. Duryodhana).—§ 598 (Jayadrathavadhap.): VII, 85, (3010).—§ 599 (do.): VII, 90, (3183); 98, (3609); 100, 3751; 105, (3926); 106, (3965); 110, (4134); 114, (4440); 121, (4806); 124, (4972), (4995); 129, (5272); 131, (5357); 132, (5413); 133, (5455); 135, (5535); 138, (5667); 140, (5817); 144, (6025); 145, (6055); 147, (6297), (6334), (6375); 148, (6388); 151, (6529), 6547.—§ 600 (Ghaṭotkaca- vadhap.): VII, 154, (6641); 155, (6682); 159, (7090); 163, (7287); 164, (7327); 175, (7890); 179, (8134); 182, (†8247), 8260, (8263); 183, (8294), (8303).—§ 601 (Droṇavadhap.): VII, 185, 8451.—§ 603 (Nārāyaṇāstra- mokṣ.): VII, 194, (8964); 196, (9035), 9074; 198, (9126); 200, (9289); 201, (9398); 202, (9494).—§ 604 (Karṇap.): VIII, 1, 17; 2, 26, (34), (50); 4, 73 ( Ambikā- sutaḥ ); 5, 90 (do.); 6, (151); 7, 190, (†213), 214, 216; 8, 224, 226, (227); 9, (252), 282, (283).—§ 605 (do.): VIII, 11, (400); 16, (610); 20, (770); 21, (821); 29, (1169); 31, (1249), (1265).—§ 607 (do.): VIII, 40, 1868; 44, 2026, 2027 ( °niveśane ).—§ 608 (do.): VIII, 46, (2126); 47, (2210); 48, (2234); 51, (2440); 60, 2991 ( °sya putraiḥ ); 61, (3067); 66, 3334 ( saputreṇa ); 73, 3718; 74 ϕϕϕ, 3759, 3760, 3770, 3782; 75, (†3804); 78, (3910); 83, 4256; 93, (4834); 96, 5035 ( Ambikāsutaḥ ).—§ 609 (Śalyap.): IX, 1 ε, 40, 44, 51; 2, 57 ( Ambikāsutaḥ ), (59), 109 ( Ambikāsutaḥ ), (111).—§ 610 (do.): IX, 4, 235.— § 611 (do.): IX, 8, (380), (402); 19 δδ, 1011.—§ 612 (Hradapraveśap.): IX, 29, (1586); 30, (1673).—§ 613 (Gadāyuddhap.): IX, 32, (1817); 33 ι, 1923, 1930.—§ 615 (do.): IX, 35, 1973, 1974; 55, 3077, (3078); 56, 3129, 3154; 59 σ, 3319 ( °sya putrāḥ ), 3339 ( snuṣāś ca prasnuṣāś caiva Dh°sya ); 60, (3342); 61, (3388); 63, 3537, 3539, 3541, 3560, 3572, 3576, 3578 (after the slaughter of Duryo- dhana, Dh. was comforted by Kṛṣṇa and Vyāsa); 64, (3582).—§ 616 (Sauptikap.): X, 1, (7); 2, 101; 6, (216); 8, (319), (470) (end of Sañjaya's narrative).—§ 618 (Jala- pradānikap.): XI, 1, 1, 4, (11) (comforted by Sañjaya); 3, (84); 4, (104); 5, (125); 6, (149); 7, (163) (discourse with Vidura); 8, 196, 203, 205, (ζ), 218 ( °sya putrāṇāṃ yas tu jyeṣṭhaḥ śatasya vai ), 242, 245 (comforted by Vyāsa); 9, 246, 249; 11, 307; 12, 335 (broke the iron statue of Bhīmasena); 13, 354; 14, 360, 374.—§ 619 (Strīvilāpap.): XI, 16, 435, 483; 17, 495.—§ 620 (Śrāddhap.): XI, 26, 762, (766), (773), (776), 799.—§ 621 (Rājadh.): XII, 7, 178 ( °sya putreṣu ), 182, 190.—§ 635 (do.): XII, 37, 1373.— § 637 (do.): XII, 40, 1447 ( Kauravaḥ ), 1448, 1458; 41, 1470, 1472; 42, 1487, 1494; 44, 1522; 45, 1542— § 640 (do.): XII, 54 α, 1929.—§ 641 (do.): XII, 124, 4552, 4555, (4556), (4562), (4567), (4615), (4620), 4621 (discourses to Duryodhana about behaviour ( śīla )).—§ 760 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 111, 5403 ( °purogamaḥ ).—§ 768 (do.): XIII, 148, 6932 ( °ādayo nṛpāḥ ).—§ 776 (do.): XIII, Page252-a+ 61 167, 7704.—§ 777 (Svargārohaṇikaṃ p.): XIII, 168, 7714, 7726, 7734, 7741, 7754; 169, 7772, 7776 ( °mukhāḥ ).— § 778 (Aśvamedhikap.): XIV, 1, 1, 6.—§ 780 (do.): XIV, 14, 369, 370.—§ 783 (Anugītāp.): XIV, 52, 1502, (γ), 1503, 1504, 1506, 1509.—§ 784 b (Uttaṅka): XIV, 53, 1547 ( °syātmajāḥ ).—§ 785 (Anugītāp.): XIV, 63 ζ, 1893; 66, 1941; 71 π, 2059, 2060; 72, 2109; 78, 2294; 84, 2508; 87 ν, 2597; 88, 2608.—§ 787 (Āśramavāsap.): XV, 1, 1, 4, 5, 11, 15, 19, 20, 28; 2, 32, 39, 44 ( Ambikāsutaḥ ), 47, 56, 58; 3, 62, 65, 74, (76), (116), 118 ( Ambikāsutaḥ ), (129), 135, 139, 146, 147; 4, 148; 5, 170; 6, (214); 7, (235); 8, (265), 272, 282; 9, (283); 10, 303, 309, 310, 353; 11, 356 ( Ambikāsutaḥ ), 358, 366, 376; 12, 382 ( rājarṣiḥ ); 13, 395, 409; 14, 410, 423; 15, 428, 436; 16, 445, 446; 18, 498 ( Ambikāsutaḥ ), 506, 510; 19, 533; 20, 541, 559, 562, 568, 570, 575 ( Dh. retires into the forest together with Gāndhārī; Nārada prophesies that after death they will go to the world of Kubera).—§ 788 (do.): XV, 22, 599, 610; 23, 622, 634; 24, 638; 26, (675), 691; 27, 718, 720, (δ), 730, 738; 28 ε, 742 (the Pāṇḍavas visit Dh. in the forest).—§ 789 (Putradarśanap.): XV, 29, 766, 775, 804; 31 η, 850 (was an incarnation of the Gandharva king of the same name, cf. § 130 c ), 863; 32, 869, 884, 888 (sees his dead sons, etc.).—§ 790 (do.): XV, 35, 941.— § 791 (do.): XV, 36, 957, 959, 961, 962 ( Kauravanandana ). —§ 792 (Nāradāgamanap.): XV, 37, 1016, 1050 ( Dh. and Gāndhārī and Kuntī died in a forest conflagration); 39, 1094, 1102 (the funeral rites in honour of Dh., etc.).—§ 795 (Svargārohaṇap.): XVIII, 2, 71 ( °sya putraḥ Suyodhanaḥ ); 5 λ, 148, 160 (attained to the world of Dhaneśvara, i.e. Kubera). Cf. also the following synonyms:— Ājamīḍha, q.v. Ambikāsuta (“son of Ambikā”): I, 420, 2248, 5701, 5870 ( Dh° ); II, 1790 (do.), 2620 (do.); III, 277 (do.), 606, 1915, 8456; VI, 127 ( Dh° ); VIII, 18, 73 ( Dh° ), 90 (do.), 214 (do.), 217 (do.), 226 (do.), 5035 (do.); IX, 57 (do.), 109 (do.), 3500; XV, 18, 29, 44 ( Dh° ), 55, 118 ( Dh° ), 176, 356 ( Dh° ), 427, 428 ( Dh° ), 498. Āmbikeya (do.): III, †219, †250 ( Dh° ), †253, 598; V, †688 ( Dh° ), †1092, †1397; VII, 8 ( Dh° ). Bhārata, Bharataśārdūla, Bharataśreṣṭha, Bharatarṣabha, Bharatasattama, q.v. Kaurava, Kauravaśreṣṭha, Kauravarāja, Kauravendra, Kauravya, q.v. Kuruśārdūla, Kuruśreṣṭha, Kurūdvaha, Kurukulaśreṣṭha, Kurukulodvaha, Kuru- mukhya, Kurunandana, Kurupravīra, Kuru- puṅgava, Kururāja, Kurusattama, Kuru- vaṃśavivardhana, Kuruvīra, Kuruvṛddha, Kuruvṛddhavarya, q.v. Vaicitravīrya (“son of Vicitravīrya”): I, 500, 7382; II, †2139, 2457 ( Dh° ); III, 326, 600, †14744, †14747; V, †31, †38, †693 ( Dh° ), †945, 1334, 1353, †2411, †2428 ( °sya sutaḥ, i.e. Duryodhana), 2551, 3084, 3112; VI, 38, 131; VIII, †1732 ( °sya sutaḥ, i.e. Duryodhana); IX, 233; XI, 46, 93; XV, 46, †431, 709, 1058, 1078. [ ID=3508 ]
- an ancient king  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > Dhṛtarāṣṭra 5, Vaicitravīryi, an ancient king (properly identical with Dhṛtarāṣṭra 1 ). § 615 o (Baka 3 ): IX, 41, 2319 ( Vaicitravīryinaḥ ), 2324, 2328, 2329, 2331, 2343. [ ID=3512 ]
- 1. A son of Vichitravirya and father of Duryodhana and ninety-nine other sons.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Dhṛtarāṣṭra (V) — a son of Vicitravīrya; wife Gān- dhārī; father of 100 sons of whom Duryodhana was the eldest. Vā. 99. 242-3. [ ID=6711 ]

### Dhṛtarāṣṭra, a Nāga or Serpent King (4 definitions)
- an epithet of a Naga also called Airavata  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a Nāga also called Airāvata, Atharva-veda (Title); Brāhmaṇa (Literary category); Mahābhārata (Title) &c. [ ID=101854 ]
- a serpent king  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > [Printed book page 252-1 ] Dhṛtarāṣṭra 2, a serpent-king. § 17 (Uttaṅka): I, 3, 800.—§ 47 (Sarpanāmakath.): I, 35, 1558 (enumeration of serpents).—§ 67 (Sarpasattra): I, 57, 2155 (enumeration of the serpents of Dh.'s race).—§ 268 (Varuṇasabhāv.): II, 9, 361 (among the nāgas in the palace of Varuṇa).— Page252-b+ 63 § 549 d (Pāṇḍavapr.): Dh. is the first of all nāgas: IV, 2, 44.—§ 564 (Mātalīyop.): V, 103 γ, 3631 (enumeration).— § 595 (Ṣoḍaśarāj., v. Pṛthu Vainya): VII, 69, 2415 (when the serpents milked the earth, Dh. was their milker).—§ 606 (Tripurākhyāna): VIII, 34, 1481 ( daśa nāgapatīn… Dh°mukhān, became the pole of Śiva's chariot).—§ 793 (Mausalap.): XVI, 4 η, †119. [ ID=3509 ]
- an eminent Naga of Patala  
  *The Purana Index*
  > धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) [Printed book page 2-178 ] Dhṛtarāṣṭra (I) — an eminent Nāga of the Pātāla; 1 used in milking the cow-earth and as a rope in the chariot of Tripurāri. 2 Heard the Viṣṇu Purāṇa from Nārada and narrated it to Vāsuki. 3 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. V. 24. 31; Br. III. 7. 34; Vā. 69. 71.] [ Footnote: 2) M. 6. 40; 10. 20; 133. 25 and 30.] [ Footnote: 3) Vi. VI. 8. 45-6.] [ ID=6707 ]
- the name of a snake demon  
  *The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects*
  > धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) [Printed book page 1-403 ] 1. Dhṛta-rāṣṭra (‘having his kingdom firmly established’) is the name of a snake demon with the patronymic Airāvata, ‘descendant of Irāvant, ’ in the Atharvaveda 1 and the Pañca- viṃśa Brāhmaṇa. 2 [ Footnote: 1) viii. 10, 29.] [ Footnote: 2) xxv. 15, 3. Cf. Jaiminīya Upaniṣad Brāhmaṇa, iv. 26, 15; Weber, Indische Studien, 17. 257.] [ ID=1454 ]

### Other Kings Named Dhṛtarāṣṭra (4 definitions)
- of a king of Kashi  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a king of Kāśī, Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa (Title) (with the patr. वैचित्रवीर्य (vaicitravīrya), Kāṭhaka (Literary category) ) [ ID=101857 ]
- a son of Janamejaya  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a son of Janam-ejaya, in the same place [Cologne Addition] (Title) [ ID=101859 ]
- a king, son of the elder Janamejaya  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > Dhṛtarāṣṭra 4, a king, son of the elder Janamejaya. § 154 (Pūruvaṃś.): I, 94, 3745, 3747 (father of Kuṇḍika, etc.). [ ID=3511 ]
- a king  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > Dhṛtarāṣṭra 6, a king. § 757 b (Hastikūṭa): XIII, 102, 4848, 4849, (†4853), (†4855), (†4857), †4857, (†4859), †4859, (†4861), (†4863), (†4866), †4866, (†4869), †4870, (†4872), †4873, (†4875), †4875, (†4878), †4879, (†4881), †4881, (†4883), (†4885), 4890, (4894), 4895 (in the shape of Dh. Indra put Gautama to test). [ ID=3513 ]

### Dhṛtarāṣṭra, a Daitya or Dānava (3 definitions)
- of a son of the Daitya Bali  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a son of the Daitya Bali, Harivaṃśa (Title) [ ID=101856 ]
- a son of Bali and a Danava  
  *The Purana Index*
  > [Printed book page 2-179 ] Dhṛtarāṣṭra (III) — a son of Bali and a dānava. Br. III. 6. 8; M. 6. 11. [ ID=6709 ]
- one of Danu's sons  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Dhṛtarāṣṭra (IV) — one of Danu's sons. Vā. 68. 8. [ ID=6710 ]

### Dhṛtarāṣṭra, a Gandharva (3 definitions)
- 1. A Deva-gandharva sometimes identified with King Dharma. 2. A king of the Gandharvas and one of the four Maharahas or Lokapalas in Buddhism.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a Deva-gandharva sometimes identified with King Dh° (below), Mahābhārata (Title) (with Buddhists, N. of a king of the Gandharvas and one of the 4 Mahārājas [ Lalita-vistara (Title) ] or Lokapālas [ Dharmasaṃgraha (Title) vii ] Monier-Williams’ Buddhism in its connexion with Brāhmaṇism and Hindūism: and in its contrast with Christianity (Title) 206 ) [ ID=101855 ]
- a Gandharva  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > [Printed book page 252-2 ] Dhṛtarāṣṭra 3, a Gandharva. § 100 (Aṃśāvat.): I, 65, 2550 (among the Devagandharvas, the sons of Muni).—§ 191 (Arjuna): I, 123, 4811 (among the Devagandharvas who were present at the birth of Arjuna).—§ 778 b (Samvartta- Maruttīya): XIV, 10, †257, †258, (†259), †259 ( Gandharvaṃ ), †264 (messenger of Indra).—§ 789 (Putradarśanap.): XV, 31, 850 ( Gandharvarājaḥ, incarnate as Dhṛtarāṣṭra 1 ).—§ 795 (Svargārohaṇap.): XVIII, 4, 139 ( Gandharvarājānaṃ, identical with Dhṛtarāṣṭra 1 ). Cf. Gandharva, Gandharvarāj, Gandharvarāja, Gandharvarājan. [ ID=3510 ]
- A Gandharva presiding over the month of Isha, and with the sun in the months of Magha and Phalguna.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Dhṛtarāṣṭra (II) — a Mauneya Gandhrava presiding over the month of Iṣa; 1 with the sun in the months of Māgha and Phālguṇa. 2 Page2-179+ 26 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. XII. 11. 43; Br. II. 23. 21; III. 7. 2; Vā. 69. 2.] [ Footnote: 2) Ib. 52. 21; Vi. II. 10. 16.] [ ID=6708 ]

### Dhṛtarāṣṭra/Dhṛtarāṣṭrī (Bird/Geese related) (3 definitions)
- a king of the geese  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a king of the geese ( cf. Haṃsa, above), Jātakamālā (Title) [ ID=101860 ]
- bird  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > partic. bird, Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) [ ID=101861 ]
- the mother of geese and other water birds  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H3B) [Printed book page 519,2] धृत (dhṛta) — राष्ट्री (—rāṣṭrī) ( ई (ī) ), f. N. of a daughter of Tāmrā (mother of geese and other water-birds), Mahābhārata (Title); Rāmāyaṇa (Title); Purāṇas (Literary category) [ ID=101863 ]

### Epithet 'Powerful/Good King' or Common Name (2 definitions)
- whose empire is firm or a powerful king  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H3) [Printed book page 519,2] धृत (dhṛta) — राष्ट्र (—rāṣṭra) m. whose empire is firm, a powerful king, Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) [ ID=101853 ]
- 1. A good king or a proper name. 2. A goose.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) [Printed book page 399-a ] धृत - राष्ट्र (dhṛta-rāṣṭra) ( ष्ट्रः ) ((ṣṭraḥ)) 1. m. A good king; a proper name. f. ( ष्ट्री (ṣṭrī) ) A goose. [ ID=20260 ]

### Multiple Beings Named Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Plural) (1 definition)
- 1. A proper name. 2. A class of beings in the palace of Yama.  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > Dhṛtarāṣṭra, pl. ( °āḥ ). § 267 (Yamasabhāv.): II, 8, 334 (100 Dhṛtarāṣṭras in the palace of Yama). [ ID=3514 ]

### Sons of King Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Kauravas) (1 definition)
- the hundred sons of King Dhritarashtra  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > pl. the 100 sons of King Dh° (enumerated, Mahābhārata (Title) i, 4540 ) [ ID=101862 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

The Sanskrit Lexicon app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanskrit-lexicon-dictionary/id6746787546