Shloka 17
Vyāsa’s Counsel to Dhṛtarāṣṭra on Restraining Duryodhana (व्यास-धृतराष्ट्र-उपदेशः)
व्यास उवाच तदिन्द्र: सुरभीवाक्यं निशम्य भृशविस्मित: । जीवितेनापि कौरव्य मेने5भ्यधिकमात्मजम्,व्यासजी कहते हैं--कुरुराज! सुरभिकी यह बात सुनकर इन्द्र बड़े विस्मित हो गये। तबसे वे पुत्रको प्राणोंसे भी अधिक प्रिय मानने लगे
vyāsa uvāca tad indraḥ surabhī-vākyaṃ niśamya bhṛśa-vismitaḥ | jīvitena api kauravya mene 'bhyadhikam ātmajam ||
ব্যাস ক’লে—হে কৌৰৱবংশজ! সুৰভীৰ কথা শুনি ইন্দ্ৰ অতি বিস্মিত হ’ল। তেতিয়াৰ পৰা তেওঁ নিজৰ পুত্ৰক প্ৰাণতকৈও অধিক প্ৰিয় বুলি মানিবলৈ ধৰিলে।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Hearing a morally forceful appeal (Surabhī’s words) can awaken empathy and reshape values: Indra’s priorities shift so that care and responsibility toward his child become paramount, even above self-preservation.
Vyāsa narrates to a Kuru descendant that Indra listens to Surabhī, becomes deeply astonished, and thereafter considers his own son dearer than life itself.