Shloka 37
Kaurava Court Hears of the Pāṇḍavas’ Forest Hardship (वैचित्रवीर्यवंशीयस्य राज्ञः करुणाविचारः)
निरुष्य तत्र सुचिरमेवं वल्निर्वशं गत: । मनस्तासु विनिक्षिप्य कामयानो वराड़ना:
niruṣya tatra suciram evaṁ valnir vaśaṁ gataḥ | manas tāsu vinikṣipya kāmayāno varāṅganāḥ ||
Disse Mārkaṇḍeya: Tendo-se contido ali por muito tempo, por fim caiu sob o domínio da paixão. Fixando a mente naquelas mulheres, passou a desejar as donzelas de belos membros.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of losing inner mastery: when the mind is fixed on sense-objects, even long restraint can collapse into desire. Dharma here is linked to vigilant mental discipline, not merely outward control.
Mārkaṇḍeya narrates a moment where a person, after long restraint, becomes overpowered by passion; his mind turns toward certain women, and he begins to desire them—marking a turning point from restraint to infatuation.