Shloka 51
Vāraṇāvata-prasaṃsā and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure (वरणावत-प्रशंसा तथा पाण्डव-प्रयाणम्)
पुत्रेण तेन प्रीतो5हं भरद्वाजो मया यथा । गोक्षीरं पिबतो दृष्टवा धनिनस्तत्र पुत्रकान् अश्वत्थामारुदद् बालस्तन्मे संदेहयद् दिश:,उस पुत्रसे मुझे उतनी ही प्रसन्नता हुई, जितनी मुझसे मेरे पिता भरद्वाजको हुई थी। एक दिनकी बात है, गोधनके धनी ऋषिकुमार गायका दूध पी रहे थे। उन्हें देखकर मेरा छोटा बच्चा अश्वत्थामा भी बाल-स्वभावके कारण दूध पीनेके लिये मचल उठा और रोने लगा। इससे मेरी आँखोंके सामने अँधेरा छा गया--मुझे दिशाओंके पहचाननेमें भी संशय होने लगा
putreṇa tena prīto 'haṃ bharadvājo mayā yathā | gokṣīraṃ pibato dṛṣṭvā dhaninas tatra putrakān | aśvatthāmā rudad bālas tan me saṃdehayad diśaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Por causa daquele filho eu me alegrei—assim como meu pai Bharadvāja outrora se alegrara comigo. Mas um dia, ao ver ali os filhos de homens ricos bebendo leite de vaca, meu pequeno Aśvatthāmā, na impotência da infância, começou a chorar, desejando leite. Diante dessa cena, minha mente foi tomada; foi como se a escuridão caísse diante dos meus olhos, e eu mal pudesse discernir as direções.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical sting of inequality: a parent’s joy in a child is pierced by the child’s unmet needs when confronted with others’ abundance. It evokes compassion and shows how deprivation can shape later choices and character.
The narrator recalls being pleased with his son Aśvatthāmā, but then describes a moment when the child sees wealthy boys drinking cow’s milk. Wanting the same, Aśvatthāmā cries, and the father becomes mentally overwhelmed, losing his sense of direction from grief and distress.