Shloka 50
शल्यपर्वणि प्रथमाध्यायः — Karṇa-vadha-anantaraṃ Śalya-niyogaḥ, Saṃjayasya Dhṛtarāṣṭra-nivedanam
तथा सर्वा: स्त्रियश्वैव गान्धारी च यशस्विनी । ततो दीर्घेण कालेन विदुरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
tathā sarvāḥ striyaś caiva gāndhārī ca yaśasvinī | tato dīrgheṇa kālena viduraṃ vākyam abravīt ||
Assim também choraram todas as mulheres, e a ilustre Gandhārī. Então, após longo tempo, ela dirigiu a Vidura estas palavras — uma pausa grave em que se juntaram a dor, a contenção e a reflexão moral, antes que o conselho enfim fosse dado.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of silence and timing: in moments of collective grief, speech is not impulsive but emerges after restraint and reflection, preparing the ground for dharmic counsel rather than reactive blame.
Vaiśampāyana reports that the women, including the famed Gandhārī, are present in shared sorrow; after a long pause, Gandhārī finally addresses Vidura, signaling the beginning of a significant exchange of counsel and lament in the war’s aftermath.