Shloka 5
Gāndhārī’s Grief, Vyāsa’s Pacification, and the Ethics of Retaliation (गान्धारी-शोकः शमोपदेशश्च)
स वार्यमाणो नास्माकमकार्षीवचनं तदा | पाण्डवानधिकाज्जानन् बले शौर्ये च कौरव,“कुरुनन्दन! हमलोगोंने आपको बहुत रोका; परंतु आपने बल और शॉौर्यमें पाण्डवोंको बढ़ा-चढ़ा जानकर भी हमारा कहना नहीं माना
sa vāryamāṇo nāsmākam akāṛṣī vacanaṃ tadā | pāṇḍavān adhikāj jñānan bale śaurye ca kaurava ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Though we repeatedly tried to restrain him, he did not heed our counsel at that time. Even while knowing that the Pāṇḍavas surpassed the Kauravas in strength and in valor, he still refused to accept what we said—an ethical failure of judgment where pride and obstinacy overruled prudent advice.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of disregarding prudent counsel even when facts are known. Knowing the Pāṇḍavas’ superiority in strength and valor, the refusal to listen reflects pride and obstinacy—traits that lead rulers toward adharma and ruin.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that despite repeated attempts by advisers/elders to restrain a Kaurava leader, he did not accept their words. This sets the moral background for the catastrophe: the war proceeded though the imbalance of power and the likely consequences were understood.