Shloka 251
Draupadī’s Rebuke of Jayadratha and Dhaumya’s Admonition (Āraṇyaka-parva, Adhyāya 252)
इति श्रीमहाभारते वनपर्वणि घोषयात्रापर्वणि दुर्योधनप्रायोपवेशे एकपज्चाशदधिकद्वधिशततमो<5ध्याय:
iti śrīmahābhārate vanaparvaṇi ghoṣayātrāparvaṇi duryodhana-prāyopaveśe ekapañcāśad-adhika-dviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ
Ainsi s’achève le deux-cent-cinquante-et-unième chapitre du Vana Parva du Śrī Mahābhārata, dans la section de l’expédition de razzia de bétail (Ghoṣa-yātrā), décrivant la résolution de Duryodhana d’entreprendre un jeûne jusqu’à la mort. Ce colophon marque un tournant du récit : l’orgueil et l’humiliation poussent Duryodhana vers une décision d’autodestruction, faisant naître une tension morale entre l’ego obstiné et les devoirs de la royauté et de la parenté.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The colophon highlights an ethical fault-line: when honor and ego dominate, a ruler may choose self-harmful extremes rather than self-correction. It implicitly contrasts impulsive, pride-driven resolve with dharmic steadiness—endurance, accountability, and responsibility to one’s role and relationships.
This is an end-of-chapter colophon marking the conclusion of a chapter in the Ghoṣa-yātrā episode, specifically the portion dealing with Duryodhana’s decision to undertake prāyopaveśa (a fast unto death). It signals that the preceding narrative has brought Duryodhana to a crisis point.