Shloka 15
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Duryodhana Saṃvāda on Restraint and Rājānīti
Chapter 50
तत् प्राप्तोड्सि महाबाहो कस्माच्छोचसि पुत्रक । स्फीतं राष्ट्र महाबाहो पितृपैतामहं महत्
tat prāpto ’si mahābāho kasmāc chocasī putraka | sphītaṃ rāṣṭraṃ mahābāho pitṛpaitāmahaṃ mahat ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Ô toi aux bras puissants, mon fils, tu as déjà atteint cette position ; pourquoi t’affliges-tu ? Ce grand royaume—hérité de ton père et de tes aïeux—est prospère et abondant. Puisque tu jouis de ce que d’autres obtiennent à peine, nourriture et vêtements d’excellence, quelle raison reste-t-il pour le chagrin ?»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse challenges grief in the presence of fulfilled worldly duties and prosperity, implying that lamentation should be examined against one’s actual circumstances—especially when one holds rightful status, resources, and an inherited responsibility to sustain a flourishing realm.
Vaiśampāyana narrates a speech addressed to a princely figure called “mahābāho,” questioning why he mourns despite having attained his position and enjoying the prosperity of a great ancestral kingdom.