Shloka 51
Vāraṇāvata-prasaṃsā and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure (वरणावत-प्रशंसा तथा पाण्डव-प्रयाणम्)
पुत्रेण तेन प्रीतो5हं भरद्वाजो मया यथा । गोक्षीरं पिबतो दृष्टवा धनिनस्तत्र पुत्रकान् अश्वत्थामारुदद् बालस्तन्मे संदेहयद् दिश:
putreṇa tena prīto 'haṃ bharadvājo mayā yathā | gokṣīraṃ pibato dṛṣṭvā dhaninas tatra putrakān | aśvatthāmā rudad bālas tan me saṃdehayad diśaḥ ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。「その子ゆえに、私は喜びに満たされた——かつて父バラドヴァージャが私を得て喜んだのと同じように。だがある日、そこにいる富める者たちの子が牛乳を飲むのを見て、わが幼子アシュヴァッターマンは、幼さの無力さのまま乳を欲して泣き出した。その光景に心は圧し潰され、目の前に闇が降りたかのようで、方角さえ判じがたかった。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical sting of inequality: a parent’s joy in a child is pierced by the child’s unmet needs when confronted with others’ abundance. It evokes compassion and shows how deprivation can shape later choices and character.
The narrator recalls being pleased with his son Aśvatthāmā, but then describes a moment when the child sees wealthy boys drinking cow’s milk. Wanting the same, Aśvatthāmā cries, and the father becomes mentally overwhelmed, losing his sense of direction from grief and distress.