Shloka 1
Saudāsa
Kalmāṣapāda) Released by Vasiṣṭha; Return to Ayodhyā; Birth of Aśmaka (अश्मक-जन्म
/ (दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके ३८ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ९४ श्लोक हैं) सप्तषष्ट्यधिेकशततमोड<ध्याय: कुन्तीकी अपने पुत्रोंसे पूछकर पंचालदेशमें जानेकी तैयारी वैशम्पायन उवाच एतच्छुत्वा तु कौन्तेया ब्राह्मणात् संशितव्रतात् । सर्वे चास्वस्थमनसो बभूवुस्ते महाबला:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! कठोर व्रत-वाले उस ब्राह्मणसे यह सुनकर उन सब महाबली कुन्तीपुत्रोंका मन विचलित हो गया
vaiśampāyana uvāca | etac chrutvā tu kaunteyā brāhmaṇāt saṃśitavratāt | sarve cāsvastamanaso babhūvus te mahābalāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Hearing this from that brāhmaṇa of disciplined vows, all those mighty sons of Kuntī became inwardly unsettled, their minds no longer at ease—an ethical tremor that signals how grave counsel or ominous news can shake even the strong when dharma and safety are at stake.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even great strength does not prevent moral and emotional disturbance when authoritative counsel reveals danger or a difficult dharmic situation; the verse highlights the weight of truthful speech from a disciplined brāhmaṇa and its ethical impact on decision-making.
Vaiśampāyana narrates to King Janamejaya that, after hearing certain information from a vow-observant brāhmaṇa, the sons of Kuntī (the Pāṇḍavas) become mentally unsettled—setting up the next actions and preparations in the story.