Shloka 3
Bhīmasena’s Counsel on Grief, Inner Conflict, and the Duty of Kingship (भीमसेन-उपदेशः)
न वक्ष्यामि न वक्ष्यामीत्येवं मे मनसि स्थितम् । अतिदु:खात्तु वक्ष्यामि तन्निबोध जनाधिप
na vakṣyāmi na vakṣyāmīty evaṃ me manasi sthitam | atiduḥkhāt tu vakṣyāmi tan nibodha janādhipa ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Dalam hatiku aku telah berulang kali bertekad, ‘Aku tidak akan berkata-kata, aku tidak akan berkata-kata.’ Namun, didorong oleh dukacita yang amat berat, aku akan juga berkata. Dengarlah dengan penuh perhatian, wahai tuan manusia.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech: even when one wishes to remain silent, compassion and responsibility to convey truth may compel narration—especially when the subject is painful. It frames truthful instruction as an act undertaken despite personal sorrow.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a king, stating that he had firmly decided not to speak about a matter, but intense grief forces him to relate it anyway, urging the listener to pay close attention.