Mahabharata 11.13.5 — Stree Parva, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 5
Gāndhārī’s Grief, Vyāsa’s Pacification, and the Ethics of Retaliation (गान्धारी-शोकः शमोपदेशश्च)
स वार्यमाणो नास्माकमकार्षीवचनं तदा | पाण्डवानधिकाज्जानन् बले शौर्ये च कौरव,“कुरुनन्दन! हमलोगोंने आपको बहुत रोका; परंतु आपने बल और शॉौर्यमें पाण्डवोंको बढ़ा-चढ़ा जानकर भी हमारा कहना नहीं माना
sa vāryamāṇo nāsmākam akāṛṣī vacanaṃ tadā | pāṇḍavān adhikāj jñānan bale śaurye ca kaurava ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Embora repetidas vezes tenhamos tentado contê-lo, naquele tempo ele não deu ouvidos às nossas palavras. Mesmo sabendo que os Pāṇḍava superavam os Kaurava em força e em bravura, ó descendente de Kuru, ele ainda assim recusou aceitar o que dissemos.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of disregarding prudent counsel even when facts are known. Knowing the Pāṇḍavas’ superiority in strength and valor, the refusal to listen reflects pride and obstinacy—traits that lead rulers toward adharma and ruin.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that despite repeated attempts by advisers/elders to restrain a Kaurava leader, he did not accept their words. This sets the moral background for the catastrophe: the war proceeded though the imbalance of power and the likely consequences were understood.
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