Mahabharata 3.21.15 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 15
Dvārakā’s Distress and the Saubha Engagement (द्वारकाव्यग्रता तथा सौभयुद्धम्)
इत्यहं तस्य वचन श्रुत्वा परमदुर्मना: । निशक्ष॒यं नाधिगच्छामि कर्तव्यस्येतरस्य च,दूतका यह वचन सुनकर मेरा मन उदास हो गया। मैं कर्तव्य और अकर्तव्यके विषयमें कोई निश्चय नहीं कर पाता था
ity ahaṁ tasya vacanaṁ śrutvā paramadurmanāḥ | niścayaṁ nādhigacchāmi kartavyasyetarasya ca ||
Als ich seine Worte hörte, wurde ich von tiefer Niedergeschlagenheit ergriffen. Ich vermochte zu keinem festen Entschluss zu gelangen, was zu tun und was zu lassen sei—mein Urteil über Pflicht und ihr Gegenteil geriet ins Wanken.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a powerful being can be shaken by counsel and circumstance; when the mind is clouded by sorrow, one may lose clarity about kartavya (duty) versus akartavya (what should not be done). The verse highlights the need for steadiness and discernment in ethical decision-making.
Vāyudeva reports his reaction after hearing another person’s statement: he becomes deeply dejected and admits he cannot determine with certainty the proper course of action versus its opposite.
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