Shloka 31
खाण्डवप्रस्थप्रवेशः तथा इन्द्रप्रस्थनिर्माणवर्णनम् | Entry into Khāṇḍavaprastha and Description of Indraprastha’s Founding
ते वयं प्राप्तकालस्य चिकीर्षा मन्त्रयामहे । यथा नो न ग्रसेयुस्ते सपुत्रबलबान्धवान्,“इस समय जैसा अवसर उपस्थित है, इसमें हमें क्या करना चाहिये--यही सोच- विचारकर निश्चय करना है, जिससे वे पाण्डव पुत्र, बान्धव तथा सेनासहित हमारा सर्वनाश न कर बैठे”
te vayaṁ prāptakālasya cikīrṣā mantrayāmahe | yathā no na graseyus te saputrabalabāndhavān ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Nun, da der entscheidende Augenblick gekommen ist, müssen wir beraten und festlegen, was zu tun ist, damit jene Pāṇḍavas — mitsamt ihren Söhnen, Verwandten und bewaffneten Heeren — uns nicht verschlingen und unseren völligen Untergang herbeiführen.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a critical moment arrives, leaders must deliberate carefully and choose a course of action that prevents needless destruction; the verse highlights the ethical weight of counsel (mantra) in times of looming conflict.
The speaker reports a council-like resolve: ‘We must decide what to do now,’ motivated by fear that the Pāṇḍavas, supported by sons, allies, and military power, may overwhelm and destroy them.