Shloka 253
अपश्यन्त्या: प्रियं पुत्र॑ यन्न दीर्यति मेड्द्य वै । “राजाओ! अवश्य ही मेरा हृदय पत्थर और लोहेका बना हुआ है, तभी तो अपने प्रिय पुत्रको जीवित न देखकर भी आज यह फट नहीं जाता है
apaśyantyāḥ priyaṃ putraṃ yan na dīryati medhyavai | rājāo! avaśya hi me hṛdayaṃ pāṣāṇa-lohakasam idaṃ bhūtaṃ, tenaiva priyaputraṃ jīvantaṃ na paśyanty api adya na vidīryate |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Raja! Sungguh hatiku pasti terbuat dari batu dan besi; sebab bahkan hari ini, meski aku tak melihat putraku yang tercinta hidup, hatiku tidak juga hancur.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the extremity of parental grief and the paradox of survival after loss: when the heart does not break, it can feel like a hardening into stone and iron. Ethically, it underscores compassion for mourners and the recognition that endurance may come with numbness rather than strength.
Vaiśampāyana, narrating to the king, conveys a lament in which the speaker marvels that despite not seeing the beloved son alive, the heart has not shattered—expressing shock, sorrow, and emotional desolation.