Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 40
Duryodhana’s Post-Duel Lament and Instructions (भग्नसक्थस्य विलापः)
न ते>स्त्यविदितं किंचिद् वृद्धस्य तव भारत । कालस्य च यथावृत्तं तत् ते सुविदितं प्रभो
na te 'sty aviditaṁ kiñcid vṛddhasya tava bhārata | kālasya ca yathāvṛttaṁ tat te suviditaṁ prabho ||
வைசம்பாயனன் கூறினான்— “ஓ பாரதா! நீர் முதியவர்; உமக்கு அறியாதது எதுவும் இல்லை. காலத்தின் போக்கில் நிகழ்ந்ததும் நிகழ்வதும் அனைத்தும் உமக்கு நன்கு தெரிந்ததே, பிரபுவே।”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the primacy of Kāla (Time) and the moral weight of lived experience: an elder ruler is expected to recognize how events unfold under Time’s course and to accept responsibility with clear understanding rather than pleading ignorance.
Vaiśampāyana narrates a moment of address to Dhṛtarāṣṭra (called Bhārata), emphasizing that as an old and experienced king he already knows what has occurred according to Time—setting a tone of sober reflection in the aftermath of the war.