Shloka 16
आदि पर्व — अध्याय १०६
Pāṇḍu’s Gifts, Forest Residence, and Vidura’s Marriage
तां भीतां पाण्डुसंकाशां विषण्णां प्रेक्ष्य भारत । व्यास: सत्यवतीपुत्र इदं वचनमत्रवीत्,जनमेजय! उसे भयभीत, विषादग्रस्त तथा पाण्डु-वर्णकी-सी देख सत्यवतीनन्दन व्यासने यों कहा--
tāṁ bhītāṁ pāṇḍusaṅkāśāṁ viṣaṇṇāṁ prekṣya bhārata | vyāsaḥ satyavatīputra idaṁ vacanam atravīt janamejaya ||
O descendant of Bharata, O Janamejaya, seeing her—frightened, downcast, and pale as if drained of color—Vyāsa, the son of Satyavatī, addressed her with these words.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata ethic: when fear and despair overwhelm someone, a wise guide intervenes with measured speech. It frames counsel (upadeśa) as a dharmic response to emotional crisis—stabilizing the mind before action or decision.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration to King Janamejaya, Vyāsa notices a woman in a state of fear and dejection, described as pale. Moved by her condition, he begins to speak to her—introducing the next passage of advice or revelation.