Shloka 251
Draupadī-apaharaṇa-saṃdeśaḥ
Report of Draupadī’s Abduction and the Pāṇḍavas’ Pursuit
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत वनपर्वके अन्तर्गत घोषयात्रापर्वमें दुर्योधनप्रायोपवेशनविषयक दो सौ इक्यावनवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
iti prakāraṁ śrīmahābhārate vanaparvake antargata ghoṣayātrāparvaṇi duryodhana-prāyopaveśana-viṣayakaḥ dviśata-eka-pañcāśattamo 'dhyāyaḥ pūrṇaḥ
Ainsi s’achève le deux-cent-cinquante-et-unième chapitre du sous-épisode de la Ghoṣayātrā, inclus dans le Vana Parva du Mahābhārata sacré, traitant de la résolution de Duryodhana d’entreprendre le prāyopaveśa (jeûne jusqu’à la mort). Cette note de clôture signale une crise morale : lorsque l’orgueil et l’humiliation se durcissent en une volonté d’autodestruction, le conseil et le dharma deviennent les épreuves décisives de la royauté et du caractère.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The colophon points to an ethical hinge in the story: when ego and wounded honor drive a ruler toward self-harm (prāyopaveśa), true dharma is tested through restraint, right counsel, and responsibility rather than impulsive extremes.
This is the chapter-ending notice stating that the 251st chapter of the Ghoṣayātrā episode within Vana Parva is complete, and that its subject is Duryodhana’s intention to undertake prāyopaveśa (fasting unto death).