Shloka 27
धृतराष्ट्रस्य वंशोपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Dynastic Counsel on Legitimate Rule
पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च राज्ञाममिततेजसाम् । विररामैवमुक्त्वा तु विदुरो दीनमानस: । प्रध्यायमान: स तदा नि: श्वसंश्व॒ पुन: पुन:,नृपश्रेष्ठ! प्रसन्न होइये। पाण्डवों, कौरवों तथा अमिततेजस्वी राजाओंका महान् विनाश दृष्टिगोचर हो रहा है। ऐसा कहकर दीनचित्त विदुरजी चुप हो गये और विशेष चिन्तामें मग्न होकर उस समय बार-बार लंबी साँसें खींचने लगे
pāṇḍavānāṃ kurūṇāṃ ca rājñām amit-tejasām | virarāmaivam uktvā tu viduro dīna-mānasaḥ | pradhyāyamānaḥ sa tadā niḥśvasaṃś ca punaḥ punaḥ ||
Vidura, his heart weighed down, spoke thus and then fell silent. As he reflected deeply, he kept drawing long, repeated breaths, for before his eyes he saw the looming great destruction of the Pāṇḍavas, the Kurus, and other kings of immeasurable prowess. The verse underscores the ethical tragedy of a war born from obstinacy: when counsel is ignored, even the wise can only grieve at the dharmic collapse that leads to collective ruin.
विदुर उवाच