Shloka 18
Droṇācārya’s Assessment of the Pāṇḍavas: Nīti, Kāla, and Intelligence (विराटपर्व, अध्याय २६)
अथवा विषमं प्राप्प विनष्टा: शाश्वती: समा: । तस्मान्मानसमपव्यग्रं कृत्वा त्वं कुरुनन्दन । कुरु कार्य महोत्साहं मन्यसे यन्नराधिप,“अथवा वे किसी विषम परिस्थितिमें पड़कर सदाके लिये नष्ट हो गये हों। अतः कुरुनन्दन! मनुजेश्वर! आप अपने चित्तको स्वस्थ करके जो ठीक समझमें आवे, वह कार्य पूर्ण उत्साहके साथ करें"
athavā viṣamaṃ prāpya vinaṣṭāḥ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ | tasmān mānasam apavyagraṃ kṛtvā tvaṃ kurunandana | kuru kāryaṃ mahotsāhaṃ manyase yan narādhipa ||
“Or else, having fallen into some dire calamity, they may have perished for good through the passing of many long years. Therefore, O delight of the Kurus, O king of men, steady your mind and, with great resolve, carry out whatever course of action you judge to be right.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
In uncertainty and fear—when outcomes are unknown and loved ones may be lost—the counsel is to regain mental steadiness (apavyagra-manas) and then act with determined energy on what one judges to be right (kārya), rather than being paralyzed by anxiety.
Vaiśampāyana reports advice given to a Kuru prince/king: since those being sought may have met disaster long ago, the ruler should not remain mentally unsettled but should compose himself and decisively undertake the appropriate course of action.