Shloka 77
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
गान्धारी त्वेव धर्मज्ञा मनसोद्धहती भृशम् । दुःखान्यधारयद् राजन् मैवमित्येव चाब्रवीत्
gāndhārī tveva dharmajñā manasoddahatī bhṛśam | duḥkhānyadhārayad rājan maivamityeva cābravīt
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Pero Gāndhārī, aunque conocedora del dharma, quedó sacudida en lo más hondo de su ánimo. ¡Oh rey! Soportó sus muchas penas y no cesaba de decir: «Que no sea así; no hagas esto».
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even one who knows dharma can be overwhelmed by sorrow; the verse highlights endurance (dhṛti) and the ethical impulse to restrain harmful action—expressed in Gandhārī’s repeated plea, “mā evam” (“do not act thus”).
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration to King Janamejaya, Gandhārī is described as intensely distressed yet bearing her grief, repeatedly voicing a prohibition—“maivam”—as she tries to prevent or restrain what is about to be done.