Shloka 18
राजधर्मः—राष्ट्ररक्षणं, दण्डनीतिः, हयग्रीवोपाख्यानम्
Royal Duty: Protection, Penal Policy, and the Hayagrīva Exemplum
स कि शोचसि मूढ: सन् शोच्यान् किमनुशोचसि । पश्य दु:खेषु दुःखानि भयेषु च भयान्यपि
sa ki śocasi mūḍhaḥ san śocyān kim anuśocasi | paśya duḥkheṣu duḥkhāni bhayeṣu ca bhayāny api ||
तू मूढ़ होकर क्यों शोक करता है? जो स्वयं शोचनीय हैं, उनका बार-बार क्यों शोक करता है? देख—शोक करने से दुःख में दुःख बढ़ता है और भय में भय भी।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Grief that is driven by delusion does not heal; it compounds suffering and amplifies fear. The verse urges clear seeing (paśya) and restraint of repetitive lamentation.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, Vyāsa addresses a grieving listener, rebuking unwise lamentation and pointing out its harmful psychological and ethical consequences.