Shloka 8
भीष्मद्रोणयोर्दुर्योधनं प्रति शान्त्युपदेशः | Bhīṣma and Droṇa’s Counsel to Duryodhana for Pacification
मा कुलघ्न: कुपुरुषो दुर्मति: कापथं गम: । मातरं पितरं चैव मा मज्जी: शोकसागरे
mā kulaghnaḥ kupuruṣo durmatiḥ kāpathaṃ gamaḥ | mātaraṃ pitaraṃ caiva mā majjīḥ śokasāgare ||
मा कुलघ्नः कुपुरुषो दुर्मतिः कापथं गमः । मातरं पितरं चैव मा मज्जीः शोकसागरे ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns against choosing an unrighteous course that destroys one’s lineage and character; it frames ethical failure as both personal degradation (becoming kulaghna, kupuruṣa, durmati) and relational harm (casting one’s parents into profound grief).
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war counsel and negotiations, Vaiśampāyana reports a stern admonition urging the addressee not to disregard wise advice and not to proceed on a wrongful path that would bring dynastic ruin and unbearable sorrow to parents.