Shloka 41
ऋषिसमागमः — युधिष्ठिरस्य शोकवर्णनम्
Sage Assembly and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Articulation of Grief
सभायां गदतो चूते दुर्योधनहितैषिण: । तदा नश्यति मे रोष: पादौ तस्य निरीक्ष्य ह
sabhāyāṃ gadato cūte duryodhana-hitaiṣiṇaḥ | tadā naśyati me roṣaḥ pādau tasya nirīkṣya ha ||
When, in the royal assembly, the charioteer spoke with the intention of serving Duryodhana’s interests, and I had to hear his harsh and bitter words, my rising anger would then subside—simply by looking at his feet. Thus, even amid provocation, reverence for one’s elder and benefactor restrains wrath and preserves ethical self-control.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when provoked by harsh speech in a political setting, one should restrain anger through humility and reverence; remembering one’s ethical bonds (such as respect toward an elder or benefactor) can dissolve wrath and prevent unrighteous retaliation.
Yudhiṣṭhira recalls an episode in the assembly where a charioteer, speaking in Duryodhana’s interest, uttered bitter words. Though Yudhiṣṭhira’s anger rose, it would calm when he looked at the speaker’s feet—signaling deference and the deliberate choice of restraint over confrontation.