Shloka 19
Āśvamedhika-parva Adhyāya 1 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Lament by the Gaṅgā and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel
अश्रुत्वा तस्य धीरस्य वाक्यानि मधुराण्यहम् । फल प्राप्प महद् दुःखं निमग्न: शोकसागरे,'धीर विदुरके मधुर वचनोंको अनसुना करके मुझे यह महान् दुःखरूपी फल प्राप्त हुआ है। मैं शोकके महान् समुद्रमें डूब गया हूँ
aśrutvā tasya dhīrasya vākyāni madhurāṇy aham | phalaṁ prāpya mahad duḥkhaṁ nimagnaḥ śokasāgare ||
Having failed to listen to the sweet, wise words of that steadfast man, I have reaped a grievous fruit—great sorrow. I am sunk in the ocean of grief. The verse underscores the ethical cost of ignoring sound counsel: neglect of dharmic advice ripens into suffering and remorse.
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ignoring wise and well-intentioned counsel leads to painful consequences; ethical discernment includes the humility to listen, and the 'fruit' (phala) of neglect is sorrow and remorse.
A speaker reflects on past failure to heed a wise person's gentle counsel (traditionally understood as Vidura’s), and laments that this disregard has resulted in overwhelming grief, expressed through the metaphor of being drowned in an ocean of sorrow.