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,“तुम मूढ़ बनकर शोक क्यों कर रहे हो? उन मरे हुए शोचनीय व्यक्तियोंका बारंबार स्मरण ही क्यों करते हो? देखो, शोक करनेसे दुःखमें दुःख तथा भयमें भयकी वृद्धि होगी
sa ki śocasi mūḍhaḥ san śocyān kim anuśocasi | paśya duḥkheṣu duḥkhāni bhayeṣu ca bhayāny api ||
Mengapa engkau meratap dalam kebodohan? Mengapa engkau berulang kali meratapi mereka yang memang patut diratapi? Lihatlah: menuruti ratap hanya menambah duka di tengah duka, dan menambah takut di tengah takut.
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.