Shloka 2
Draupadī-apaharaṇa-saṃdeśaḥ
Report of Draupadī’s Abduction and the Pāṇḍavas’ Pursuit
अकार्षी: साहसमिदं कस्मात् प्रायोपवेशनम् । आत्मत्यागी ह्यथो याति वाच्यतां चायशस्करीम्
akārṣīḥ sāhasam idaṃ kasmāt prāyopaveśanam | ātmatyāgī hy atho yāti vācyatāṃ cāyaśaskarīm ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Pourquoi as-tu commis cet acte téméraire—cette résolution de jeûner jusqu’à la mort ? Car celui qui abandonne sa propre vie tombe en un état inférieur, et dans le monde il s’attire aussi le blâme—une honte qui répand la mauvaise renommée.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames self-destruction (or a death-seeking fast) as ethically blameworthy: it leads to an inferior destiny and produces public censure and lasting ill-repute, implying that one should face adversity through dharmic endurance rather than self-harm.
The narrator reports an admonition directed at someone who has undertaken prāyopaveśana (a fast unto death). The speaker challenges the motive for such a drastic vow and warns of its moral and social consequences.