Shloka 15
Vyāsa’s Counsel to the Concealed Pāṇḍavas; Śaṃkara’s Boon and the Predestination of Draupadī
Chapter 157
तदिदं ब्राह्मणस्यास्य दुःखमापतितं ध्रुवम् । तत्रास्य यदि साहाय्यं कुर्यामुपकृतं भवेत्,“इस समय निश्चय ही इस ब्राह्मणपर कोई भारी दुःख आ पड़ा है। यदि उसमें मैं इसकी सहायता करूँ तो वास्तविक उपकार हो सकता है”
tad idaṃ brāhmaṇasyāsya duḥkham āpatitaṃ dhruvam | tatrāsya yadi sāhāyyaṃ kuryām upakṛtaṃ bhavet ||
“Tunay ngang isang mabigat na dalamhati ang dumapo sa brāhmaṇa na ito. Kung sa sandaling ito’y tutulungan ko siya, iyon ay magiging isang tunay na kabutihang-loob.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic ethics: recognizing another’s suffering and responding with timely assistance, since help offered at the right moment becomes a genuine upakāra (true benefaction).
The speaker observes that a brāhmaṇa has certainly been struck by serious misfortune and reflects that offering support in this situation would constitute real help.