Shloka 14
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ
भारद्वाजश्च सर्वेषामाचार्य: कृप एव च । कुत एतावपि प्रश्न॑ नाहतुर्द्धिजसत्तमौ
bhāradvājaś ca sarveṣām ācāryaḥ kṛpa eva ca | kuta etāv api praśnaṁ nāhatur dvijasattamau ||
ഭാരദ്വാജപുത്രൻ ദ്രോണൻ എല്ലാവർക്കും ആചാര്യൻ; കൃപനും അതുപോലെ. എങ്കിൽ ഈ രണ്ടു ശ്രേഷ്ഠ ദ്വിജന്മാരും ഈ ചോദ്യം എന്തുകൊണ്ട് ഉന്നയിക്കുന്നില്ല?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical accountability: when wrongdoing unfolds in a royal court, the silence of respected teachers and elders becomes morally significant. Those entrusted with guiding others in dharma are expected to question and restrain adharma, not merely witness it.
Vaiśampāyana remarks that Droṇa and Kṛpa—both eminent Brahmin teachers connected to the Kuru court—were present and authoritative, yet they did not voice an important objection or inquiry. The narration underscores the troubling absence of corrective counsel from figures who should have intervened.