Shloka 18
Droṇācārya’s Assessment of the Pāṇḍavas: Nīti, Kāla, and Intelligence (विराटपर्व, अध्याय २६)
अथवा विषमं प्राप्प विनष्टा: शाश्वती: समा: । तस्मान्मानसमपव्यग्रं कृत्वा त्वं कुरुनन्दन । कुरु कार्य महोत्साहं मन्यसे यन्नराधिप
athavā viṣamaṃ prāpya vinaṣṭāḥ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ | tasmān mānasam apavyagraṃ kṛtvā tvaṃ kurunandana | kuru kāryaṃ mahotsāhaṃ manyase yan narādhipa ||
«Ou bien, tombés dans quelque calamité funeste, ils ont peut-être péri à jamais au fil de longues années. C’est pourquoi, ô joie des Kuru, ô roi des hommes, affermis ton esprit et, avec une grande résolution, accomplis la voie d’action que tu juges juste.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
In uncertainty and fear—when outcomes are unknown and loved ones may be lost—the counsel is to regain mental steadiness (apavyagra-manas) and then act with determined energy on what one judges to be right (kārya), rather than being paralyzed by anxiety.
Vaiśampāyana reports advice given to a Kuru prince/king: since those being sought may have met disaster long ago, the ruler should not remain mentally unsettled but should compose himself and decisively undertake the appropriate course of action.