Shloka 4
Bhīmasena’s Counsel on Grief, Inner Conflict, and the Duty of Kingship (भीमसेन-उपदेशः)
'जनेश्वर! मैंने कई बार मनमें निश्चय किया कि “अब नहीं बोलूँगा, नहीं बोलूँगा;' परंतु अधिक दु:ख होनेके कारण बोलना ही पड़ता है। आप मेरी बात सुनें ।। भवत: सम्प्रमोहेन सर्व संशयितं कृतम् । विक्लवत्वं च न: प्राप्तमबलत्वं तथैव च
janeśvara! mayā bahuśo manasi niścayaḥ kṛtaḥ—“idānīṃ na vakṣyāmi, na vakṣyāmi”; kintu duḥkhasya bāhulyāt vaktum eva pravṛtto ’smi. mama vacanaṃ śṛṇu. bhavataḥ sampramoheṇa sarvaṃ saṃśayitaṃ kṛtam; viklavatvaṃ ca naḥ prāptaṃ, abalattvaṃ tathaiva ca.
“হে জনেশ্বৰ! মই বহুবার মনত স্থিৰ কৰিছিলোঁ—‘এতিয়া নকওঁ, নকওঁ।’ কিন্তু দুঃখ অসহনীয়ভাৱে বাঢ়ি উঠাত ক’ব লাগিছে; মোৰ কথা শুনা। তোমাৰ এই মোহে সকলোকে সন্দেহত পেলাইছে; আৰু আমিও ব্যাকুলতা আৰু দুৰ্বলতালৈ পতিত হৈছোঁ।”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a leader’s confusion (sampramoha) spreads uncertainty and weakness among others, and it frames truthful speech as a reluctant but necessary duty when suffering and disorder demand counsel.
The speaker addresses a ruler as ‘janeśvara,’ saying he had repeatedly resolved to remain silent but is forced to speak due to overwhelming sorrow; he then blames the ruler’s bewilderment for creating doubt and causing the group to become shaken and weak.