Father of Kauravas; holder of ruling power. (Glossary for the Vahinis)

Dhritarashtra is ‘one who thinks that a kingdom which does not belong to him is his and enjoy it’.(SSB 1976, p. 39)

(The blind king Dhritarastra listens as Sanjaya relates the events of the battle between the Kaurava and the Pandava)

Answering Dhritarashtra’s question, Sanjaya said, ‘Why do you ask me what they are doing? Since they have all gathered for war, they are of course fighting.’ There is, however, an inner meaning to the question. This is to be found in his use of the word Dharmakshetra. Dhritarashtra hoped, ‘My children are bad and wicked, but since they have entered the Field of ‘Dharma(Dharmakshetra), it is possible their minds may be transformed into good.

‘Dhritarashtra’ means one who considers things, which do not belong to one as one’s very own. He is not the body; but he owns it. He is not the senses, but he derives pride in owning them. A person who considered the kingdom, which does not belong to him as his own, is a ‘Dhritarashtra.’ Every person of Dhritarashtra’s lineage identified himself with the body and the senses that led to the tragedy.(SSS Vol.17, pp. 120-121)