Shloka 11
Chapter 49: Sañjaya’s Enumeration of the Pāṇḍava Coalition (पाण्डवसैन्यसमागम-वर्णनम्)
तत्रानिमित्ततो दैवात् सूतं कश्मलमाविशत् | तदा55चचक्षे विदुर: सभायां राजसंसदि
tatrānimittato daivāt sūtaṁ kaśmalam āviśat | tadā cacakṣe viduraḥ sabhāyāṁ rājasaṁsadi ||
Di sana, tanpa sebab yang nyata—oleh kuasa takdir—kusir kereta itu dikuasai kekeliruan dan dukacita. Pada saat itu, Vidura memerhatikannya di balairung, di hadapan istana raja.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how sudden moral confusion (kaśmala) can arise even without visible cause, suggesting the pressure of destiny and circumstance; it also foregrounds Vidura as a discerning ethical witness in the royal court, attentive to signs of inner collapse that often precede grave political decisions.
In the Kuru court setting, a sūta (charioteer/court attendant) is unexpectedly overcome by distress or bewilderment, and Vidura notices this in the assembly—an observation that can function as a narrative signal of tension, foreboding, or an impending disclosure within the court proceedings.