Shloka 17
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Remorse and Vyāsa’s Teaching on Impermanence (Śoka-nivāraṇa)
कुण्जरं चान्तरं कृत्वा मिथ्योपचरितं मया । सुभृशं राज्यलुब्धेन पापेन गुरुघातिना,परंतु राज्यके लोभमें अत्यन्त फँसे हुए मुझ पापी गुरु-हत्यारेने मरे हुए हाथीकी आड़ लेकर उनसे झूठ बोल दिया और उनके साथ धोखा किया
kuñjaraṃ cāntaraṃ kṛtvā mithyopacaritaṃ mayā | subhṛśaṃ rājyalubdhena pāpena gurughātinā ||
Aku menjadikan kematian gajah sebagai selubung dan bertindak dengan dusta. Terbutakan oleh kerakusan yang amat besar akan kerajaan, aku—si pendosa, pembunuh guruku sendiri—menipunya dengan mengucapkan kebohongan di balik kabar kematian gajah itu.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when pursued for political victory, deceit—especially a lie that implicates one’s duty to a revered teacher—creates grave moral fault. The verse frames untruth and manipulation as a breach of dharma that leaves lasting guilt.
Yudhiṣṭhira confesses that he used the death of an elephant as a pretext to utter a misleading statement, thereby deceiving his guru (teacher) in the war context. He condemns himself as kingdom-greedy and sinful for this act.