Shloka 18
एवं ज्ञात्वा स्थिरो भूत्वा जहारीन् धैर्यमाप्रुहि । जीवन्त एव न: शोच्या न तु स्वर्गगतो5नघ,राजन! ऐसा जानकर सुस्थिर हो धैर्यका आश्रय लो और उत्साहपूर्वक शत्रुओंका वध करो। अनघ! हमें इस संसारमें जीवित पुरुषोंके लिये ही शोक करना चाहिये। जो स्वर्गमें चला गया है, उसके लिये शोक करना उचित नहीं है
evaṁ jñātvā sthiro bhūtvā jahārīn dhairyam āpruhi | jīvanta eva naḥ śocyā na tu svargagato'nagha ||
Knowing this, become steady and take refuge in courage; with renewed resolve, strike down the foes. O blameless one, our grief is rightly for those who still live in this world; for one who has gone to heaven, lamentation is not fitting.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse urges emotional steadiness and courage grounded in dharma: grief should be directed toward the living who still face suffering and uncertainty, not toward one believed to have attained heaven; therefore one should not be paralyzed by lamentation but act with resolve.
Vyāsa addresses a king in the midst of the war’s losses, consoling him and redirecting his mind from sorrow to steadfast action—encouraging him to take up fortitude and continue the struggle against enemies without grieving for a departed warrior said to have reached heaven.