Shloka 31
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
जम्बुकस्य वच: श्रुत्वा कृपणं परिदेवत: । न्यवर्तन्त तदा सर्वे शवार्थ ते सम मानुषा:,करुणाजनक विलाप करते हुए उस सियारकी यह बात सुनकर वे सभी मनुष्य उस मृत बालकके शरीरकी देख-रेखके लिये पुनः लौट आये
jambukasya vacaḥ śrutvā kṛpaṇaṁ paridevataḥ | nyavartanta tadā sarve śavārthaṁ te samā manuṣāḥ ||
Mendengar kata-kata si jakal yang pilu dan meratap, semua orang biasa itu segera berbalik kembali—demi jenazah, agar tubuh anak yang telah mati itu tidak dibiarkan terlantar.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic obligation of compassion and responsibility: one should not abandon a helpless body (especially a child’s) but return to provide due care and proper rites, even when others are inclined to withdraw.
A jackal speaks in a sorrowful, lamenting way; upon hearing it, the men who had turned away reverse course and go back to attend to the corpse, ensuring it is not left neglected.