Shloka 23
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 146 — Brāhmaṇī’s counsel on grief, duty, and protection of children
नायं बिभेत्युपक्रोशादधर्माद् वा पुरोचन: । तथा हि वर्तते मन्द: सुयोधनवशे स्थित:,यह मूढ़ पुरोचन निन्दा अथवा अधर्मसे नहीं डरता एवं दुर्योधनके वशमें होकर उसकी आज्ञाके अनुसार आचरण करता है
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
nāyaṃ bibhety upakrośād adharmād vā purocanaḥ |
tathā hi vartate mandaḥ suyodhanavaśe sthitaḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „Dieser Purocana fürchtet weder Tadel noch Unrecht. So handelt der Tor: unter Suyodhanas Gewalt stehend, richtet er sich nach dessen Befehl.“
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical failure through fearlessness of blame and adharma: a person who submits to a wicked superior’s control may act without moral restraint, showing how obedience can become complicity in wrongdoing.
Yudhiṣṭhira comments on Purocana’s character, judging that he will not hesitate at sinful acts or public censure because he is under Suyodhana (Duryodhana)’s influence and follows his orders.