Shloka 21
पाण्डोः तपः-प्रसङ्गः, ऋण-धर्मः, अपत्य-प्राप्ति-चिन्ता
Pāṇḍu’s Asceticism, the Doctrine of Debts, and Deliberations on Progeny
उस नवजात कुमारको देखकर वृष्णिवंशकी कन्या कुलीके हृदयमें बड़ा दुःख हुआ। उसने एकाग्रचितसे विचार किया कि अब क्या करनेसे अच्छा परिणाम निकलेगा
taṁ navajātaṁ kumāraṁ dṛṣṭvā vṛṣṇivaṁśakanyā kulīkāyā hṛdaye mahān duḥkhaḥ samabhavat | sā ekāgracittā vicārayām āsa—idānīṁ kiṁ kṛtvā śreyo bhaviṣyatīti |
Seeing the newborn boy, Kulīkā, a maiden of the Vṛṣṇi lineage, was overwhelmed with grief. With her mind gathered into single-pointed focus, she reflected on what course of action might now lead to the best outcome—seeking not impulse, but the most ethically sound and beneficial result.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical deliberation (vicāra) in moments of distress: rather than acting from grief alone, one should concentrate the mind and choose the course that leads to śreyas—the best and most wholesome outcome.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Kulīkā, a maiden of the Vṛṣṇi lineage, sees a newborn boy and is struck by deep sorrow; she then reflects with focused attention on what she should do next to bring about the best result.