Shloka 1
Draupadī-apaharaṇa-saṃdeśaḥ
Report of Draupadī’s Abduction and the Pāṇḍavas’ Pursuit
हि मय ० (0) है 7 द्विपज्चाशर्दाधिकद्विशततमो< ध्याय: सर्नेपर दुर्योधन धनको समझाना और कर्णके अनुरोध करनेपर दुयोधनका अनशन त्याग करके हस्तिनापुरको प्रस्थान दानवा ऊचु: भो: सुयोधन राजेन्द्र भरतानां कुलोद्वह । शूरै: परिवृतो नित्यं तथैव च महात्मभि:,दानव बोले--भरतवंशका भार वहन करनेवाले महाराज सुयोधन! आप सदा शूरवीरों तथा महामना पुरुषोंसे घिरे रहते हैं, फिर आपने यह आमरण उपवास करनेका साहस क्यों किया है? आत्महत्या करनेवाला पुरुष तो अधोगतिको प्राप्त होता है और लोकमें उसकी निन््दा होती है, जो अयश फैलानेवाली है
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca — dānavā ūcuḥ: bhoḥ suyodhana rājendra bharatānāṃ kulodvaha | śūraiḥ parivṛto nityaṃ tathaiva ca mahātmabhiḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: Os Dānavas falaram—“Ó Suyodhana, rei entre reis, sustentáculo da linhagem dos Bharata! Estás sempre cercado de heróis e de homens de grande alma. Por que, então, ousaste empreender um jejum até a morte? Aquele que destrói a própria vida cai a um estado inferior e, no mundo, só colhe censura—desonra que espalha má fama.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage frames self-destruction (or a death-fast undertaken in despair) as ethically blameworthy: it leads to a ‘lower state’ and public censure. For a king charged with upholding a lineage, endurance and responsible action are presented as superior to self-harm motivated by frustration or wounded pride.
In Vana Parva, Adhyaya 253, the Dānavas address Duryodhana (Suyodhana). Noting that he is supported by brave and noble allies, they question why he attempted an ‘āmarana’ fast (fasting unto death) and warn him about the disgrace and negative consequences associated with self-killing.