Vāraṇāvata-prasaṃsā and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure (वरणावत-प्रशंसा तथा पाण्डव-प्रयाणम्)
इति सम्भाषतां वाचं श्रुत्वा मे बुद्धिरच्यवत् । आत्मानं चात्मना गर्हन् मनसेदं व्यचिन्तयम्
iti sambhāṣatāṃ vācaṃ śrutvā me buddhir acyavat | ātmānaṃ cātmanā garhan manasedaṃ vyacintayam ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Als ich ihre Worte im Gespräch hörte, geriet mein Verstand ins Wanken. Mich selbst im Innern tadelnd, dachte ich darüber nach—hin- und hergerissen zwischen dem Gehörten und dem, was zu tun war.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights ethical introspection: when confronted with troubling speech or circumstances, one should examine one’s own mind, acknowledge wavering judgment, and deliberate carefully rather than act impulsively.
Vaiśampāyana reports his internal reaction to hearing a conversation: his resolve falters, he mentally reproaches himself, and he begins to think through what he has heard and what response is appropriate.