Shloka 15
Vyāsa’s Counsel to Dhṛtarāṣṭra on Restraining Duryodhana (व्यास-धृतराष्ट्र-उपदेशः)
शक्र उवाच तव पुत्रसहस््रेषु पीड्यमानेषु शो भने । कि कृपायितवत्यत्र पुत्र एकत्र हन्यति,इन्द्रने कहा--कल्याणी! तुम्हारे तो सहस्रों पुत्र इसी प्रकार पीड़ित हो रहे हैं, फिर तुमने एक ही पुत्रके मार खानेपर यहाँ इतनी करुणा क्यों दिखायी?
śakra uvāca tava putra-sahasreṣu pīḍyamāneṣu śobhane | kiṁ kṛpāyitavaty atra putra ekatra hanyati ||
ইন্দ্ৰ ক’লে—হে কল্যাণী! তোমাৰ সহস্ৰ সহস্ৰ পুত্ৰ একেই ধৰণে পীড়িত হৈ থাকোঁতে, ইয়াত মাত্ৰ এজন পুত্ৰ নিহত হোৱাত তুমি ইমান কৰুণা কিয় দেখুৱালা?
शक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse probes the ethics of selective compassion: if suffering is widespread, why does pity arise intensely for a single, immediate loss? It invites reflection on whether empathy should be consistent and universal rather than triggered only by proximity or personal attachment.
Indra (Śakra) addresses a woman grieving or showing strong pity over the killing of one son, and challenges her by pointing out that many of her sons have been suffering similarly; he questions the reason for her heightened compassion in this particular instance.