Mahabharata — Stree Parva, Shloka 35
स्त्रीपर्व १: धृतराष्ट्रशोकः संजयाश्वासनं च
Strī Parva 1: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament and Saṃjaya’s Consolation
आदावेव मनुष्येण वर्तितव्यं यथाक्षमम् | यथा नातीतमर्थ वै पश्चात्तापेन युज्यते,“मनुष्यको पहले ही यथायोग्य बर्ताव करना चाहिये, जिससे आगे चलकर उसे बीती हुई बातके लिये पश्चात्ताप न करना पड़े
ādāveva manuṣyeṇa vartitavyaṃ yathākṣamam | yathā nātītam arthaṃ vai paścāttāpena yujyate ||
From the very outset, a person should conduct oneself as well as one is able; so that later one is not bound to remorse over what has already passed.
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Act rightly from the beginning, within one’s ability and discernment, because once events have passed, regret cannot undo them; ethical foresight prevents later remorse.
In the opening of the Strī Parva, the narration turns to grief and reflection after the war; this verse frames the mood with a moral maxim about timely right conduct and the futility of lamenting what is already past.
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