Shloka 17
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Remorse and Vyāsa’s Teaching on Impermanence (Śoka-nivāraṇa)
कुण्जरं चान्तरं कृत्वा मिथ्योपचरितं मया । सुभृशं राज्यलुब्धेन पापेन गुरुघातिना
kuñjaraṃ cāntaraṃ kṛtvā mithyopacaritaṃ mayā | subhṛśaṃ rājyalubdhena pāpena gurughātinā ||
Je pris l’éléphant pour écran et j’agis dans le mensonge. Aveuglé par une âpre convoitise du royaume, moi—pécheur, meurtrier de mon propre maître—je le trompai en proférant une contre-vérité sous le couvert de la nouvelle de la mort de l’éléphant.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when pursued for political victory, deceit—especially a lie that implicates one’s duty to a revered teacher—creates grave moral fault. The verse frames untruth and manipulation as a breach of dharma that leaves lasting guilt.
Yudhiṣṭhira confesses that he used the death of an elephant as a pretext to utter a misleading statement, thereby deceiving his guru (teacher) in the war context. He condemns himself as kingdom-greedy and sinful for this act.