Shloka 29
पाण्डवानां वनप्रस्थानवर्णनम् / The Pāṇḍavas’ Departure for the Forest
Vidura’s Report and Portents
मनस्विनमजानन्तो मैवं ब्रूयु: कुमारका: । एष वै दासपुत्रो हि प्रतिविन्ध्यं ममात्मजम्
manasvinam ajānanto maivaṁ brūyuḥ kumārakāḥ | eṣa vai dāsaputro hi prativindhyaṁ mamātmajam ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Janganlah anak-anak muda berkata demikian, kerana tidak mengetahui nilai sebenar seorang lelaki yang berjiwa besar. Orang ini memang anak seorang hamba; namun Prativindhya ialah anakku sendiri.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse cautions against careless or contemptuous speech based on incomplete understanding. It highlights an ethical restraint: do not judge a person’s worth merely by birth or rumor, and do not speak disparagingly without knowing the full truth.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses young speakers who are making remarks without understanding the situation. He rebukes them for speaking improperly and asserts a claim of kinship regarding Prativindhya, while also contrasting him with someone described as of servile birth.