Shloka 863
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
कथं गच्छत नि:स्नेहा: सुतस्नेहं विसृज्य च | अहो! धिक््कार है। तुमलोग गीधकी बातोंमें आकर मूर्खोके समान पुत्रस्नेहसे रहित हुए प्रेमशून्य होकर कैसे घरको लौटे जा रहे हो?
kathaṃ gacchata niḥsnehāḥ sutasnehaṃ visṛjya ca |
कथं गच्छत निःस्नेहाः सुतस्नेहं विसृज्य च । अहो धिक्! गृध्रवाक्यैर्विप्रलब्धा यूयं मूढा इव सुतस्नेहरहिताः प्रेमशून्याः कथं गृहं प्रतिगच्छथ ॥
जम्बुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns the abandonment of natural compassion and responsibility—especially parental affection—under the influence of misleading counsel. Ethically, it warns that dharma is not upheld by becoming emotionally barren or by surrendering one’s discernment to persuasive but harmful advice.
Jambuka rebukes a group who, swayed by a vulture’s talk, have given up their attachment to their son and are returning home as if indifferent. His speech is a sharp moral reprimand, highlighting their loss of judgment and humane feeling.