Mahabharata 11.1.42 — Stree Parva, Adhyaya 1, Shloka 42
स्त्रीपर्व १: धृतराष्ट्रशोकः संजयाश्वासनं च
Strī Parva 1: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament and Saṃjaya’s Consolation
यच्चाश्रुपातात् कलिलं वदनं वहसे नृप । आशान्त्रदृष्टमेतद्धि न प्रशंसन्ति पण्डिता:
yaccāśrupātāt kalilaṁ vadanaṁ vahase nṛpa | aśāstradṛṣṭam etaddhi na praśaṁsanti paṇḍitāḥ ||
વૈશમ્પાયન બોલ્યા—હે નૃપ! આંસુઓના પડઘાથી ભીનું અને મલિન થયેલું મુખ લઈને ફરવું શાસ્ત્રસંમત નથી; પંડિતો આવા આચરણની પ્રશંસા કરતા નથી।
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses restraint and dignified conduct for a ruler: public, uncontrolled lamentation is portrayed as contrary to śāstric norms, and therefore not endorsed by the wise.
In the aftermath of the war, the speaker addresses the king, observing his tear-soaked, grief-stricken appearance and admonishing him that such overt weeping is not considered proper according to traditional standards.
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