Shloka 6
उद्योगपर्व — धृतराष्ट्रस्य दुर्योधनप्रति शक्तिस्मारक-उपदेशः
Udyoga Parva 63: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel Reminding Duryodhana of Opponent Strength
विचित्रमिदमाश्चर्य मृगहन् प्रतिभाति मे । प्लवमानौ हि खचरौ पदातिरनुधावसि
vicitram idam āścaryaṁ mṛgahan pratibhāti me | plavamānau hi khacarau padātir anudhāvasi ||
“হে শিকারি! আমার কাছে এ বড়ই বিচিত্র ও আশ্চর্য মনে হচ্ছে—ওই দুই আকাশচারী পাখি উড়ে চলেছে, আর তুমি পায়ে হেঁটে মাটির ওপর তাদের পেছনে দৌড়াচ্ছ।”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the mismatch between means and ends: pursuing what is out of reach with inadequate means is folly. It implicitly urges discernment (viveka) and restraint—key elements of dharma and practical ethics.
Vidura addresses a hunter, expressing amazement that the hunter is running on foot on the ground while trying to chase two birds flying in the sky, setting up a moral reflection on misguided pursuit.