Shloka 104
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
स्वैरं रुदन्तो विश्रब्धाश्रिरं स्नेहेन पश्यत । (दारुणे5स्मिन् वनोद्देशे भयं वो न भविष्यति । अयं सौम्यो वनोद्देश: पितृणां निधनाकर: ।।) स्थीयतां यावदादित्य: कि च क्रव्यादभाषितै:
svairaṁ rudanto viśrabdhāśriraṁ snehena paśyata | (dāruṇe ’smin vanoddeśe bhayaṁ vo na bhaviṣyati | ayaṁ saumyo vanoddeśaḥ pitṝṇāṁ nidhanākaraḥ ||) sthīyatāṁ yāvad ādityaḥ kiṁ ca kravyādabhāṣitaiḥ |
Jambuka said: “Weep as you wish, yet look on with trust and affection. In this harsh tract of forest, no fear will come to you. This woodland is gentle—indeed, it is a place where the Fathers (the departed ancestors) meet their end. Stay here while the sun remains in the sky; and what need is there to heed the talk of flesh-eaters?”
जम्बुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes calming fear through reassurance and affectionate counsel: even in a frightening setting, one should steady the mind, remain together, and not be driven by alarming or predatory speech.
Jambuka addresses a group who are crying in a forest. He urges them to look on with trust, assures them that no danger will befall them there, tells them to stay until the sun’s time, and dismisses the threatening talk of ‘flesh-eaters’ (predators or hostile beings).