Shloka 7
Vidura Leaves Hastināpura and Meets Uddhava
Vidura’s Tīrtha-yātrā Begins
यदा सभायां कुरुदेवदेव्या: केशाभिमर्शं सुतकर्म गर्ह्यम् । न वारयामास नृप: स्नुषाया: स्वास्रैर्हरन्त्या: कुचकुङ्कुमानि ॥ ७ ॥
yadā sabhāyāṁ kuru-deva-devyāḥ keśābhimarśaṁ suta-karma garhyam na vārayām āsa nṛpaḥ snuṣāyāḥ svāsrair harantyāḥ kuca-kuṅkumāni
যখন সভায় কুরুদেবী যুধিষ্ঠিরের পত্নী দ্রৌপদীর কেশ টেনে ধরার মতো পুত্র দুঃশাসনের নিন্দিত কর্ম ঘটল, তখনও রাজা তা নিবৃত্ত করলেন না—যদিও তাঁর অশ্রু বক্ষে লেগে থাকা কুঙ্কুম ধুয়ে দিচ্ছিল।
FAQs
This verse recalls the condemnable act of seizing Draupadī’s hair in the assembly and highlights the moral collapse when the king failed to restrain the offenders, showing how adharma spreads when leaders remain silent.
He is criticized because, as the king and elder of the Kuru court, he did not stop the outrage against his own daughter-in-law, revealing attachment and weakness that enabled injustice.
The verse teaches that witnessing wrongdoing without intervening—especially by those with authority—makes one complicit; dharma requires timely protection of the vulnerable and speaking up against injustice.