Shloka 56
Vāraṇāvata-prasaṃsā and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure (वरणावत-प्रशंसा तथा पाण्डव-प्रयाणम्)
हास्यतामुपसम्प्राप्तं कश्मलं तत्र मे5भवत् । द्रोणं धिगस्त्वधनिनं यो धनं नाधिगच्छति
hāsyatām upasamprāptaṁ kaśmalaṁ tatra me 'bhavat | droṇaṁ dhig astv adhaninaṁ yo dhanaṁ nādhigacchati |
Vaiśampāyana said: “Then a grievous anguish came upon me, for I saw my son become an object of ridicule. Some people there were saying, ‘Shame on Droṇa, that penniless man—he who does not obtain wealth!’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical tension between inner worth and social valuation: society condemns a person for poverty and lack of material success, and such contempt can wound deeply—especially when it humiliates one’s family. It implicitly critiques the reduction of human dignity to wealth.
The speaker reports a moment of intense distress upon seeing his son become a target of mockery. Onlookers voice scorn toward Droṇa, calling him shameful for being poor and for not acquiring wealth—setting the emotional and social pressure that drives later choices.