Shloka 21
धृतराष्ट्रस्य बलाबलचिन्ता
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Strength and Preference for Śama
इत्येवं चिन्तयत् कृत्स्नमहोरात्राणि भारत । अनिद्रो नि:ःसुखश्नास्मि कुरूणां शमचिन्तया
ity evaṁ cintayat kṛtsnam ahorātrāṇi bhārata | anidro niḥsukhaś cāsmi kurūṇāṁ śamacin tayā ||
वैशम्पायन बोले—हे भारत! दिन-रात इसी प्रकार सोचते-सोचते मुझे नींद नहीं आती; कुरुओं में शान्ति कैसे हो—इस चिन्ता ने मेरा सारा सुख हर लिया है।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical burden of seeking reconciliation: genuine concern for peace (śama) can become an all-consuming responsibility, showing that preventing adharma and civil strife is a serious moral duty, not a casual preference.
The speaker reports a state of relentless reflection—day and night—leading to sleeplessness and loss of happiness, caused by worry about how to establish peace among the Kurus as tensions move toward open conflict.