Shloka 15
अध्याय ३३१: नारायणकथा-प्रशंसा तथा नारदस्य श्वेतद्वीप-निवृत्ति एवं बदरी-आगमनम् | Chapter 331: Praise of the Nārāyaṇa Narrative; Nārada’s Return from Śvetadvīpa and Arrival at Badarī
न जानपदिकं दुःखमेक: शोचितुमहति । अशोचन् प्रतिकुर्वीत यदि पश्येदुपक्रमम्
na jānapadikaṃ duḥkham ekaḥ śocitum arhati | aśocan pratikurvīta yadi paśyed upakramam ||
Dijo Nārada: Cuando una calamidad ha caído sobre toda una región, no es propio que una sola persona se lamente como si fuera sólo suya. Si se vislumbra un medio práctico para evitarla o contrarrestarla, entonces, dejando el duelo, debe actuarse para remediarla.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Grief is unproductive when a widespread disaster strikes; if a remedy is possible, one should restrain lamentation and take effective action. The verse emphasizes discernment (seeing a means) and duty-oriented response over solitary, self-centered sorrow.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, Nārada offers counsel on conduct: when suffering is collective (jānapadika), an individual should not merely mourn; upon recognizing a feasible upakrama (practical measure), one should actively work to counter the संकट.