Vyāsa’s Counsel to the Concealed Pāṇḍavas; Śaṃkara’s Boon and the Predestination of Draupadī
Chapter 157
तदिदं ब्राह्मणस्यास्य दुःखमापतितं ध्रुवम् । तत्रास्य यदि साहाय्यं कुर्यामुपकृतं भवेत्,“इस समय निश्चय ही इस ब्राह्मणपर कोई भारी दुःख आ पड़ा है। यदि उसमें मैं इसकी सहायता करूँ तो वास्तविक उपकार हो सकता है”
tad idaṃ brāhmaṇasyāsya duḥkham āpatitaṃ dhruvam | tatrāsya yadi sāhāyyaṃ kuryām upakṛtaṃ bhavet ||
„Gewiss ist über diesen Brāhmaṇa ein schweres Leid gekommen. Wenn ich ihm in dieser Lage beistehe, wird das eine wahrhaftige Hilfe sein, ein echtes Wohltun.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights dharmic ethics: recognizing another’s suffering and responding with timely assistance, since help offered at the right moment becomes a genuine upakāra (true benefaction).
The speaker observes that a brāhmaṇa has certainly been struck by serious misfortune and reflects that offering support in this situation would constitute real help.