स्त्रीपर्व १: धृतराष्ट्रशोकः संजयाश्वासनं च
Strī Parva 1: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament and Saṃjaya’s Consolation
अर्थान्न शोचन् प्राप्नोति न शोचन् विन्दते फलम् | न शोचन् श्रियमाप्रोति न शोचन् विन्दते परम्,“शोक करनेवाला मनुष्य अपने अभीष्ट पदार्थोंको नहीं पाता है, शोकपरायण पुरुष किसी फलको नहीं हस्तगत कर पाता है। शोक करनेवालेको न तो लक्ष्मीकी प्राप्ति होती है और न उसे परमात्मा ही मिलता है
arthān na śocan prāpnoti na śocan vindate phalam | na śocan śriyam āpnoti na śocan vindate param ||
悲嘆に屈せぬ者は望むところを得る。嘆きに沈まぬ者は行いの果を手にする。憂いに焼かれぬ者は繁栄を得、そして悲嘆なき者はまた、至上の善にも到る。
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Excessive grief is portrayed as counterproductive: it blocks the pursuit of rightful aims (artha), the gaining of results (phala), the attainment of prosperity (śrī), and even the highest spiritual good (param). The verse recommends inner steadiness so that one can act, endure, and orient oneself toward dharma and liberation.
In Strī Parva’s opening, the epic turns to the women’s lamentation after the Kurukṣetra slaughter. Amid pervasive mourning, the narration introduces counsel that grief, if indulged without restraint, cannot restore the dead and instead undermines both worldly recovery and spiritual progress.