Shloka 250
Jayadratha Approaches Draupadī in the Forest
Hospitality, Persuasion, and Reproach
इति श्रीमहाभारते वनपर्वणि घोषयात्रापर्वणि दुर्योधनप्रायोपवेशे कर्णवाक्ये पजञ्चाशदधिकद्धिशततमो<्ध्याय:
iti śrīmahābhārate vanaparvaṇi ghoṣayātrāparvaṇi duryodhana-prāyopaveśe karṇa-vākye pañcāśad-adhika-dviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ
આ રીતે શ્રીમહાભારતના વનપર્વના ઘોષયાત્રાપર્વમાં, દુર્યોધનના પ્રાયોપવેશ (આમરણ ઉપવાસ) અને કર્ણવાક્ય વિષયક બે સો પચાસમો અધ્યાય પૂર્ણ થયો.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
As a colophon, the verse does not teach through direct instruction; it frames the episode ethically by highlighting two contrasting impulses: Duryodhana’s self-destructive resolve (prāyopaveśa) arising from wounded pride, and Karṇa’s role as an adviser whose words shape action. The implied lesson is that honor-driven despair can lead to harmful vows, and counsel can either restrain or inflame such impulses.
This is an end-of-chapter marker identifying the textual location: in the Vana Parva, within the Ghoṣa-yātrā section, the chapter dealing with Duryodhana’s decision to fast unto death and Karṇa’s speech has concluded; it labels the chapter number as the 250th.