Shloka 38
द्रौपदी-शैब्यसंवादः — Draupadī’s Identification and Counsel on Hospitality
सामर्थ्य कि तत: शोके शोचमानौ प्रपश्यथ: । धृतिं गृह्लीत मा शत्रून् शोचन्तौ नन्दयिष्यथ:
sāmarthyaṃ kiṃ tataḥ śoke śocamānau prapaśyathaḥ | dhṛtiṃ gṛhlīta mā śatrūn śocantau nandayiṣyathaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «À quoi sert la seule puissance si vous êtes engloutis dans le chagrin et ne faites que regarder en vous lamentant ? Saisissez la fermeté. Ne donnez pas à vos ennemis la joie de vous voir pleurer.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Strength is meaningful only when joined with dhṛti (steadfast courage). Excessive lamentation weakens resolve and indirectly benefits opponents; ethical self-control requires converting grief into firm, purposeful action.
Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, reports an admonition directed to two grieving persons (indicated by the dual forms). They are urged to stop lamenting, regain composure, and not provide satisfaction to their enemies through visible despair.