Mahabharata — Sabha Parva, Shloka 31
Adhyāya 45 — Duryodhana’s Distress, Śakuni’s Counsel, and the Summons for Dyūta
हस्तैर्हस्ताग्रमपरे प्रत्यपिंषन्नमर्षिता: । अपरे दशनैरोष्ठानदशन् क्रोधमूर्च्छिता:,कुछ अन्य नरेश अत्यन्त अमर्षमें भरकर हाथोंसे हाथ मसलने लगे तथा दूसरे लोग क्रोधसे मूर्च्छित होकर दाँतोंसे ओठ चबाने लगे
hastair hastāgram apare pratyapiṁṣann amarṣitāḥ | apare daśanair oṣṭhān adaśan krodha-mūrcchitāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Certains rois, bouillonnant de ressentiment, se frottaient les mains avec agitation ; d’autres, submergés et presque défaillants de colère, se mordaient les lèvres. C’étaient les signes visibles de la tempête intérieure—envie et orgueil blessé—qui prenait de l’ampleur dans l’assemblée des souverains.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked anger and resentment reveal themselves through involuntary gestures and quickly corrode discernment in public life; in a royal assembly, such passions become seeds of adharma, pushing leaders toward rash speech and harmful action.
In the sabhā (royal court), several kings react to events with visible agitation: some rub their hands in pent-up indignation, while others bite their lips, overwhelmed by anger—signaling rising hostility among the assembled rulers.