Shloka 47
Duryodhana’s Post-Duel Lament and Instructions (भग्नसक्थस्य विलापः)
याचितस्त्वं शमं नित्यं न च तत् कृतवानसि । 'भीष्म, सोमदत्त, बाह्नीक, कृपाचार्य, द्रोणाचार्य, अश्वत्थामा और बुद्धिमान् विदुरजीने भी सदा आपसे शान्तिके लिये याचना की थी; परंतु आपने वह कार्य नहीं किया || ४६६ || कालोपहतचित्ता हि सर्वे मुहान्ति भारत,'भारत! जिनका चित्त कालके प्रभावसे दूषित हो जाता है, वे सब लोग मोहमें पड़ जाते हैं। जैसे कि पहले युद्धकी तैयारीके समय आपकी भी बुद्धि मोहित हो गयी थी। इसे कालयोगके सिवा और क्या कहा जा सकता है? भाग्य ही सबसे बड़ा आश्रय है
yācitas tvaṁ śamaṁ nityaṁ na ca tat kṛtavān asi | kālopahatacittā hi sarve muhyanti bhārata ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “You were repeatedly urged to make peace, yet you did not do so. For, O Bhārata, when the mind is struck and clouded by the force of Time, all people fall into delusion. Thus your own understanding too became bewildered earlier, at the time preparations for war began—what else can this be called but the working of Time? Fate becomes the final refuge.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even wise counsel can fail when the mind is overpowered by Kāla (Time/destiny): delusion arises, and one neglects peace. The verse highlights moral responsibility—peace was urged—while also acknowledging the Mahābhārata’s theme that Time can cloud judgment and drive events toward war.
Vaiśampāyana addresses the Bhārata king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra), reminding him that he was repeatedly asked to pursue peace but did not act. He explains this failure as the effect of Kāla, which afflicts the mind and leads to confusion, especially at the critical moment when war preparations began.