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 ||
Yudhiṣṭhira dit : «De même que tu dois abandonner l’illusion née du désir, de même un roi qui agit ainsi—renonçant à l’égarement issu de la convoitise—ne tombe pas dans les liens. À maintes reprises j’ai tranché tes doutes nés de l’avidité ; mais, sans foi et l’esprit embrouillé, tu ne l’acceptes pas. C’est assurément pour cela que ta mémoire et ton discernement se sont obscurcis.»
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.