Shloka 17
Vyāsa’s Counsel to Dhṛtarāṣṭra on Restraining Duryodhana (व्यास-धृतराष्ट्र-उपदेशः)
व्यास उवाच तदिन्द्र: सुरभीवाक्यं निशम्य भृशविस्मित: । जीवितेनापि कौरव्य मेने5भ्यधिकमात्मजम्,व्यासजी कहते हैं--कुरुराज! सुरभिकी यह बात सुनकर इन्द्र बड़े विस्मित हो गये। तबसे वे पुत्रको प्राणोंसे भी अधिक प्रिय मानने लगे
vyāsa uvāca tad indraḥ surabhī-vākyaṃ niśamya bhṛśa-vismitaḥ | jīvitena api kauravya mene 'bhyadhikam ātmajam ||
Vyāsa said: “O scion of the Kuru line, when Indra heard Surabhī’s words, he was greatly astonished. From that time onward, he regarded his own son as dearer even than his very life.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Hearing a morally forceful appeal (Surabhī’s words) can awaken empathy and reshape values: Indra’s priorities shift so that care and responsibility toward his child become paramount, even above self-preservation.
Vyāsa narrates to a Kuru descendant that Indra listens to Surabhī, becomes deeply astonished, and thereafter considers his own son dearer than life itself.