Shloka 20
Āśvamedhika-parva Adhyāya 1 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Lament by the Gaṅgā and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel
वृद्धौ हि तेडद्य पितरौ पश्य नौ दुःखितौ नृप । न शोचितव्यं भवता पश्यामीह जनाधिप,“नरेश्वर! दुःखमें डूबे हुए हम दोनों बूढ़े माता-पिताकी ओर देखो। तुम्हारे लिये शोक करनेका औचित्य मैं नहीं देख पाता हूँ”
vṛddhau hi te ’dya pitarau paśya nau duḥkhitau nṛpa | na śocitavyaṃ bhavatā paśyāmīha janādhipa ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Wahai raja, lihatlah—kedua-dua ibu bapamu kini telah lanjut usia, dan kami diliputi dukacita. Namun, wahai tuan manusia, aku tidak melihat bahawa engkau patut bersedih demi dirimu sendiri di sini. Pandanglah kami dan bertindaklah dengan keteguhan serta tanggungjawab yang layak bagi seorang pemerintah.”
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse urges a ruler to restrain personal lamentation and to respond to suffering with dharmic steadiness—especially by recognizing the condition of elders/parents and acting responsibly rather than collapsing into grief.
Vaiśaṃpāyana addresses a king, pointing out that the king’s parents are old and distressed. He counsels the king that this is not a moment for self-directed mourning, but for composed, duty-bound action in view of the family’s suffering.