Shloka 18
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Grief, Kṛṣṇa’s Consolation, and Vyāsa’s Admonition (युधिष्ठिरशोक-निवारणोपदेशः)
(यथा वै कामजां मायां परित्यक्तुं त्वमहसि । तथा तु कुर्वन् नृपतिननिबन्धेन युज्यते ।।
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
yathā vai kāmajāṃ māyāṃ parityaktuṃ tvam arhasi |
tathā tu kurvan nṛpatir anibandhena yujyate ||
asakṛc cāpi saṃdehāś chinnās te kāmajā mayā |
aśraddadhāno durmedhā luptasmṛtir asi dhruvam ||
Dijo Yudhiṣṭhira: «Así como debes abandonar la ilusión nacida del deseo, del mismo modo un rey que actúa así—renunciando al engaño nacido del anhelo—no cae en ataduras. Una y otra vez he cortado tus dudas surgidas de la codicia; pero, falto de fe y de entendimiento confuso, no lo aceptas. Sin duda por eso tu memoria y tu discernimiento se han oscurecido».
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Desire generates delusion and doubt; a ruler who renounces this desire-born illusion and acts with detachment avoids bondage. Ethical governance depends on inner self-mastery rather than mere external power.
Yudhiṣṭhira admonishes his interlocutor, urging the abandonment of desire-born delusion. He says he has repeatedly resolved the other’s doubts, but the listener’s lack of faith and confused intellect prevents acceptance, leading to impaired remembrance and judgment.