Shloka 44
धृतराष्ट्रस्य मूर्च्छा—व्यासोपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Collapse and Vyāsa’s Counsel
भवान् धर्मपरो यत्र बुद्धिश्रेष्ठक्ष भारत । मुहाते प्राणिनां ज्ञात्वा गतिं चागतिमेव च,भरतनन्दन! तुम धर्मपरायण और बुद्धिमें श्रेष्ठ हो। तुम्हें प्राणियोंके आवागमनका रहस्य भी ज्ञात है, तो भी क्यों मोहके वशीभूत हो रहे हो?
bhavān dharmaparo yatra buddhiśreṣṭhaś ca bhārata | muhyase prāṇināṃ jñātvā gatiṃ cāgatiṃ eva ca ||
Vyāsa berkata: “Wahai Bhārata, engkau berpegang teguh pada dharma dan terunggul dalam kebijaksanaan. Engkau mengetahui perjalanan dan kembalinya makhluk hidup—pergi dan tidak-pergi—maka mengapa engkau masih tunduk kepada moha, belenggu kekeliruan?”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a person grounded in dharma and clear intellect can be shaken by grief, but knowledge of the soul’s course—life, death, and the moral order—should restrain delusion. The verse urges steadiness: do not let moha eclipse righteous understanding.
In the aftermath of the war, amid lamentation and moral shock, Vyāsa addresses a Kuru elder (Bhārata) and rebukes his bewilderment. He reminds him of his reputation for dharma and wisdom and questions why he is overcome by grief despite knowing the principles governing beings’ destinies.