Shloka 6
स्त्रीपर्व — गान्धारीभीमसेनसंवादः
Strī-parva — Gāndhārī–Bhīmasena Dialogue on Wartime Conduct
स स्नुषामब्रवीत् काले कल्यवादी महातपा: । शापकालमवाक्षिप्प शमकालमुदीरयन्,अतः हितकी बात बतानेवाले वे महातपस्वी व्यास समयपर अपनी पुत्रवधूके पास जा पहुँचे और शापका अवसर हटाकर शान्तिका अवसर उपस्थित करते हुए इस प्रकार बोले --
sa snuṣām abravīt kāle kalyavādī mahātapāḥ | śāpakālam avākṣipya śamakālam udīrayan, athaḥ hitakī bāta batānevāle ve mahātapasvī vyāsa samayapar apanī putravadhūke pāsa jā pahuṁce aura śāpakā avasara haṭākara śāntikā avasara upasthita karate hue isa prakāra bole --
At the proper time, the great ascetic—one who spoke for the good—addressed his daughter-in-law. Setting aside the moment for curses and bringing forward the moment for pacification, the sage Vyāsa approached her and spoke in this manner, aiming to turn grief and anger toward restraint and welfare.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights timely ethical intervention: a wise elder redirects a situation from anger and cursing (śāpa) toward calm restraint and reconciliation (śama), emphasizing welfare-oriented speech (kalyavāda) over reactive harm.
In the aftermath of the war, Vyāsa approaches his daughter-in-law at an appropriate moment and begins speaking with the intention of preventing a curse and establishing peace of mind and pacification.