Shloka 17
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ
एवं स बहुश: सर्वनुक्तवांस्तानू सभासद: । न च ते पृथिवीपालास्तमूचु: साध्वसाधु वा,इस प्रकार विकर्णने उन सब सभासदोंसे बार-बार अनुरोध किया; परंतु उन नरेशोंने उस विषयमें उससे भला-बुरा कुछ नहीं कहा
evaṁ sa bahuśaḥ sarvān uktavāṁs tānū sabhāsadaḥ | na ca te pṛthivīpālāḥ tam ūcuḥ sādhv asādhu vā ||
Demikianlah Vikarna berulang kali berbicara kepada semua anggota sidang diraja itu; namun raja-raja tersebut tidak menjawabnya tentang perkara itu—tidak mengakui sebagai benar, dan tidak pula mengecam sebagai salah. Keheningan mereka di hadapan seruan etika menandakan kegagalan keberanian moral di dalam istana.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When wrongdoing is being debated, refusing to judge it as right or wrong is itself an ethical failure. The verse highlights how silence in a public moral crisis can become complicity, especially among leaders who are expected to uphold dharma.
After Vikarna repeatedly appeals to the court/assembly, the gathered kings and assembly members do not respond—neither supporting nor rejecting his position. The scene underscores the court’s paralysis and unwillingness to take a stand.