Shloka 31
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
जम्बुकस्य वच: श्रुत्वा कृपणं परिदेवत: । न्यवर्तन्त तदा सर्वे शवार्थ ते सम मानुषा:,करुणाजनक विलाप करते हुए उस सियारकी यह बात सुनकर वे सभी मनुष्य उस मृत बालकके शरीरकी देख-रेखके लिये पुनः लौट आये
jambukasya vacaḥ śrutvā kṛpaṇaṁ paridevataḥ | nyavartanta tadā sarve śavārthaṁ te samā manuṣāḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Nang marinig ang mga salita ng asong-gubat, na binigkas sa abang tinig ng panaghoy, ang lahat ng karaniwang taong iyon ay agad na nagbalik-loob at bumalik—alang-alang sa bangkay—upang ang katawan ng patay na bata ay maalagaan at hindi mapabayaan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic obligation of compassion and responsibility: one should not abandon a helpless body (especially a child’s) but return to provide due care and proper rites, even when others are inclined to withdraw.
A jackal speaks in a sorrowful, lamenting way; upon hearing it, the men who had turned away reverse course and go back to attend to the corpse, ensuring it is not left neglected.