Shloka 17
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ
एवं स बहुश: सर्वनुक्तवांस्तानू सभासद: । न च ते पृथिवीपालास्तमूचु: साध्वसाधु वा,इस प्रकार विकर्णने उन सब सभासदोंसे बार-बार अनुरोध किया; परंतु उन नरेशोंने उस विषयमें उससे भला-बुरा कुछ नहीं कहा
evaṁ sa bahuśaḥ sarvān uktavāṁs tānū sabhāsadaḥ | na ca te pṛthivīpālāḥ tam ūcuḥ sādhv asādhu vā ||
આ રીતે વિકર્ણે તે બધા સભાસદોને વારંવાર સંબોધ્યા; પરંતુ તે ભૂપાલોએ આ વિષયમાં તેને ન તો ‘સાધુ’ કહ્યું, ન ‘અસાધુ’ કહ્યું.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When wrongdoing is being debated, refusing to judge it as right or wrong is itself an ethical failure. The verse highlights how silence in a public moral crisis can become complicity, especially among leaders who are expected to uphold dharma.
After Vikarna repeatedly appeals to the court/assembly, the gathered kings and assembly members do not respond—neither supporting nor rejecting his position. The scene underscores the court’s paralysis and unwillingness to take a stand.