Shloka 17
Bhīmasena’s Counsel on Grief, Inner Conflict, and the Duty of Kingship (भीमसेन-उपदेशः)
स्मर्तुमिच्छसि कौरव्य दिष्टं हि बलवत्तरम् । अथवा ते स्वभावो<यं येन पार्थिव क्लिश्यसे,“कुरुनन्दन! परंतु आप न दुखी होकर दुःखकी, न सुखी होकर सुखकी, न दुःखकी अवस्थामें सुखकी और न सुखकी अवस्थामें दुःखकी ही बातें याद करना चाहते हैं; क्योंकि भाग्य बड़ा प्रबल होता है। अथवा महाराज! आपका स्वभाव ही ऐसा है जिससे आप क्लेश उठाकर रहते हैं
smartum icchasi kauravya diṣṭaṃ hi balavattaram | athavā te svabhāvo 'yaṃ yena pārthiva kliśyase ||
వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను— ఓ కౌరవవంశజా! నీవు ఇవి స్మరించదలచుతున్నావు; కానీ విధియే మరింత బలవంతమైనది. లేకపోతే, ఓ రాజా, నిన్ను నీవే క్లేశపెట్టుకునే నీ స్వభావమే దీనికి కారణం.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts two sources of human distress: overpowering destiny (diṣṭa) and one’s own disposition (svabhāva). It suggests that obsessive recollection and rumination can be futile when events are fated, and even when not, suffering often persists because of one’s habitual temperament—implying the ethical need for self-governance and steadiness of mind.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a Kuru king/prince, observing that he is intent on remembering painful matters. The speaker explains that either destiny is stronger than personal control in this situation, or the listener’s own nature is such that he continually torments himself—framing the discussion toward acceptance, restraint, and inner discipline.