Shloka 2
Draupadī-apaharaṇa-saṃdeśaḥ
Report of Draupadī’s Abduction and the Pāṇḍavas’ Pursuit
अकार्षी: साहसमिदं कस्मात् प्रायोपवेशनम् । आत्मत्यागी ह्यथो याति वाच्यतां चायशस्करीम्,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
akārṣīḥ sāhasam idaṃ kasmāt prāyopaveśanam | ātmatyāgī hy atho yāti vācyatāṃ cāyaśaskarīm ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Por que cometeste este ato temerário—esta resolução de jejuar até a morte? Pois quem abandona a própria vida cai a um estado inferior e, no mundo, também granjeia censura—desonra que espalha má fama.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames self-destruction (or a death-seeking fast) as ethically blameworthy: it leads to an inferior destiny and produces public censure and lasting ill-repute, implying that one should face adversity through dharmic endurance rather than self-harm.
The narrator reports an admonition directed at someone who has undertaken prāyopaveśana (a fast unto death). The speaker challenges the motive for such a drastic vow and warns of its moral and social consequences.