Shloka 53
Duryodhana’s Post-Duel Lament and Instructions (भग्नसक्थस्य विलापः)
मा शुचो नरशार्दूल पाण्डवान् प्रति किल्बिषम् । “कुरुप्रवर! पुरुषसिंह! आप और यशस्वी गान्धारी-देवी कभी पाण्डवोंकी बुराई करनेकी बात न सोचें ।। एतत् सर्वमनुध्याय आत्मनश्न व्यतिक्रमम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca | mā śuco naraśārdūla pāṇḍavān prati kilbiṣam | etat sarvam anudhyāya ātmanaś ca vyatikramam |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Janganlah bersedih, wahai harimau di kalangan manusia, dan janganlah terlintas untuk melakukan kesalahan terhadap para Pāṇḍava. Dengan merenungi segala yang telah terjadi—serta kelalaian diri sendiri—hendaklah seseorang menahan tuduhan dan berpaling kepada muhasabah yang tenang.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse counsels restraint in grief and blame: one should not direct sinful intent or harsh condemnation toward the Pāṇḍavas, but instead contemplate the full situation and one’s own deviations from dharma—an ethical move from accusation to self-scrutiny and reconciliation.
In the aftermath of catastrophic events, Vaiśampāyana offers calming counsel to a great Kuru figure, urging him not to brood in sorrow or turn against the Pāṇḍavas, but to reflect on the chain of actions and personal responsibility.