Shloka 10
स्त्रीपर्व — गान्धारीभीमसेनसंवादः
Strī-parva — Gāndhārī–Bhīmasena Dialogue on Wartime Conduct
न चाप्यतीतां गान्धारि वाचं ते वितथामहम् । स्मरामि भाषमाणायास्तथा प्राणिहिता ह्सि,'गान्धारी! तुमने बातचीतके प्रसंगमें भी पहले कभी झूठ कहा हो, ऐसा मुझे स्मरण नहीं है तथा तुम सदा प्राणियोंके हितमें तत्पर रहती आयी हो
na cāpyatītāṃ gāndhāri vācaṃ te vitathām aham | smarāmi bhāṣamāṇāyās tathā prāṇihitā hy asi ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O Gāndhārī, I do not recall that you have ever spoken falsely in the past, even in ordinary conversation. Indeed, you have always been intent on the welfare of living beings.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds satya (truthfulness) and prāṇihita (concern for all beings) as enduring virtues: a person’s moral authority is grounded in a consistent record of truthful speech and benevolent intent.
Vaiśampāyana addresses Gāndhārī and affirms her credibility and character, stating he has never known her to speak falsely and that she has always acted for the welfare of living beings—framing her words as trustworthy in the post-war context of Strī Parva.