स्त्रीपर्व १: धृतराष्ट्रशोकः संजयाश्वासनं च
Strī Parva 1: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament and Saṃjaya’s Consolation
आदावेव मनुष्येण वर्तितव्यं यथाक्षमम् | यथा नातीतमर्थ वै पश्चात्तापेन युज्यते,“मनुष्यको पहले ही यथायोग्य बर्ताव करना चाहिये, जिससे आगे चलकर उसे बीती हुई बातके लिये पश्चात्ताप न करना पड़े
ādāveva manuṣyeṇa vartitavyaṃ yathākṣamam | yathā nātītam arthaṃ vai paścāttāpena yujyate ||
Desde o princípio, a pessoa deve conduzir-se tão bem quanto puder, para que depois não fique presa ao remorso pelo que já passou.
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Act rightly from the beginning, within one’s ability and discernment, because once events have passed, regret cannot undo them; ethical foresight prevents later remorse.
In the opening of the Strī Parva, the narration turns to grief and reflection after the war; this verse frames the mood with a moral maxim about timely right conduct and the futility of lamenting what is already past.