Shloka 50
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
अहो! पुत्रके वियोगसे पीड़ित हो मृतकोंके इस शून्य स्थानमें आकर अत्यन्त दुःखसे रोने-बिलखनेवाले इन भूतलवासी मनुष्योंके हृदयमें बछड़ोंसे रहित हुई गायोंकी भाँति कितना शोक होता है? इसका अनुभव मुझे आज हुआ है; क्योंकि इनके स्नेहको निमित्त बनाकर मेरी आँखोंसे भी आँसू बहने लगे हैं ।।
aho! putrake viyogena pīḍito mṛtakānām asmin śūnye sthāne āgatya atyanta-duḥkhena rorūyamāṇānām imān bhūtalavāsinaḥ manuṣyānāṁ hṛdaye vatsair rahitāḥ gāva iva kīdṛśaḥ śoko bhavati? tad anubhūtaṁ mayā adya; eteṣāṁ snehān nimittaṁ kṛtvā mama api akṣibhyāṁ aśrūṇi pravṛttāni. yatno hi satataṁ kāryaḥ, tato daivena siddhyati; daivaṁ puruṣakāraś ca kṛtāntena upapadyate.
Sinabi ni Jambuka: “Ay! Ngayon ko natanto kung anong dalamhati ang pumupuno sa puso ng mga taong naninirahan sa lupa—kapag pinahihirapan sila ng pagkawalay sa anak na lalaki, at dumating sila sa tiwangwang na pook ng mga patay na ito, saka sa tindi ng pighati’y umiiyak at nananaghoy—gaya ng mga bakang nawalan ng guya. Ang kanilang pag-ibig ang naging sanhi upang umagos din ang sarili kong luha. Kaya dapat laging magpatuloy sa pagsisikap upang makamtan ang ninanais; at saka, sa pagsasanib ng tadhana, nagkakamit ng tagumpay. Ang tadhana at pagsisikap ng tao—kapwa—ay nagkakatotoo sa pamamagitan ng Panahon (ang itinakdang daloy).”
जम्बुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a balanced view: one must continually exert effort (puruṣakāra/yatna), yet success also depends on destiny (daiva). Both are ultimately realized through Time (kṛtānta), the larger ordained order in which outcomes mature.
Jambuka observes people grieving intensely in a desolate place associated with death, especially those suffering separation from a beloved son. Moved by their affection and sorrow, he himself begins to weep, and then reflects on the relation between human effort, destiny, and Time.