Shloka 21
मा ते व्यथास्तु निहतान् बन्धून् वीक्ष्य पुनः पुनः । न शक्यास्ते पुनर्द्र्ट ये हता5स्मिन् रणाजिरे
mā te vyathāstu nihatān bandhūn vīkṣya punaḥ punaḥ | na śakyās te punar draṣṭuṁ ye hatā'smin raṇājire ||
Vāyu dit : «Ne t’afflige pas en regardant sans cesse tes proches tombés. Ceux qui ont péri sur ce champ de bataille ne peuvent plus être revus.»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse urges restraint of grief through acceptance of irreversibility: death on the battlefield is final, and repeatedly revisiting the sight of the slain only deepens suffering. Ethically, it points toward steadiness of mind and recognition of impermanence amid the consequences of war.
Vāyudeva addresses a grieving listener who is repeatedly looking at fallen relatives after a battle. He offers consolation by stating that those killed in this war-arena cannot be seen again, encouraging the person to cease obsessive mourning and move forward.