Shloka 7
Book 10, Adhyāya 12: Aśvatthāmā’s Request for the Cakra and the Brahmaśiras Context
विदितं चापल॑ं ह्यासीदात्मजस्य दुरात्मन: । सर्वधर्मविदाचार्य: सोडन्वशात् स्वसुतं ततः,उन्हें अपने दुरात्मा पुत्रकी चपलता ज्ञात थी; अतः सब धर्मोके ज्ञाता आचार्यने अपने पुत्रको इस प्रकार शिक्षा दी--
viditaṃ cāpalaṃ hy āsīd ātmajasya durātmanaḥ | sarvadharmavid ācāryaḥ so 'nunvaśāt svasutaṃ tataḥ ||
Vaishampayana said: The teacher already knew the fickle, wayward nature of his own wicked-minded son. Therefore, being a knower of all dharma, the preceptor then instructed his son accordingly—seeking to restrain him through right counsel and discipline.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A knower of dharma does not ignore moral flaws even in one’s own family; recognizing impulsiveness and wrongdoing, the proper response is timely instruction and restraint grounded in dharma.
The narrator states that the preceptor was aware of his son’s fickle and wicked disposition, and therefore proceeded to admonish and instruct him—setting up the counsel that follows in the episode.