Shloka 46
Pāṇḍu’s Marriages, Conquests, and Triumphal Return (पाण्डोर्विवाह-विजय-प्रत्यागमनम्)
व्यास उवाच यदि पुत्र: प्रदातव्यो मया भ्रातुरकालिक: । विरूपतां मे सहतां तयोरेतत् परं व्रतम्
vyāsa uvāca yadi putraḥ pradātavyo mayā bhrātur akālikāḥ | virūpatāṃ me sahatāṃ tayor etat paraṃ vratam ||
Vyāsa said: “If I must give a son to my brother without waiting for the proper time, then for those two ladies this is the highest observance: that they endure my uncomely appearance—remaining composed and unafraid on seeing me.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a difficult duty must be performed for a larger social purpose (continuity of the lineage), the required discipline is inner steadiness—bearing discomfort and fear without losing composure.
In the succession crisis after the king’s death, Vyāsa is asked to beget heirs for his brother’s line. He states that if he must do so immediately, the queens must undertake the ‘highest vow’ of remaining calm and unafraid despite his austere, unattractive appearance.