Shloka 20
Adhyāya 33 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Post-Conflict Remorse and Inquiry on Āśrama Discipline (शोक-विमर्शः, आश्रम-जिज्ञासा)
तेषामपि महाबाहो कर्माणि परिचिन्तय । विनाशहेतुकानि त्वं यैस्ते कालवशं गता:
teṣām api mahābāho karmāṇi paricintaya | vināśa-hetukāni tvaṃ yais te kāla-vaśaṃ gatāḥ ||
قال فياسا: «يا عظيمَ الساعد، تأمّل أيضًا في أعمال أولئك الرجال—تلك الأفعال بعينها التي جعلتهم أدواتٍ للهلاك، ثم لما قهرهم الزمن سِيقوا إلى نهايتهم.»
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should scrutinize the specific actions that lead to downfall, recognizing that ruin is not random: destructive choices become the causes, and then Time (kāla) completes the consequence. Ethical reflection on causality in action is urged.
Vyāsa addresses a heroic listener and instructs him to contemplate the deeds of certain people who have perished—highlighting that their end came through ruin-causing actions and the overpowering force of Time.