Mahabharata — Stree Parva, Shloka 42
स्त्रीपर्व १: धृतराष्ट्रशोकः संजयाश्वासनं च
Strī Parva 1: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament and Saṃjaya’s Consolation
यच्चाश्रुपातात् कलिलं वदनं वहसे नृप । आशान्त्रदृष्टमेतद्धि न प्रशंसन्ति पण्डिता:
yaccāśrupātāt kalilaṁ vadanaṁ vahase nṛpa | aśāstradṛṣṭam etaddhi na praśaṁsanti paṇḍitāḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O king, the face you bear—muddied and drenched by falling tears—is not sanctioned by the śāstras. The wise do not commend such conduct.”
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses restraint and dignified conduct for a ruler: public, uncontrolled lamentation is portrayed as contrary to śāstric norms, and therefore not endorsed by the wise.
In the aftermath of the war, the speaker addresses the king, observing his tear-soaked, grief-stricken appearance and admonishing him that such overt weeping is not considered proper according to traditional standards.
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