Shloka 15
Arjuna’s Absence, Bhīma’s Kṣātra-Dharma Appeal, and Bṛhadaśva’s Arrival
Nala-Upākhyāna Begins
अपीदानीं मम सुतास्तिष्ठेरन् मन्दचेतस: । येषां भ्राता गुरुज्येछ्ठो विनये नावतिष्ठते,अब भी मेरे मूर्ख पुत्र चुपचाप बैठे हैं। उनका बड़ा भाई दुर्योधन विनय एवं नीतिके मार्गपर नहीं चलता
apīdānīṃ mama sutās tiṣṭheran mandacetasaḥ | yeṣāṃ bhrātā gurujyeṣṭho vinaye nāvatiṣṭhate ||
Sinabi ni Dhṛtarāṣṭra: “Kahit ngayon, ang aking mga anak—mapurol ang isip—ay nakaupo pa rin, walang ginagawa. Ang kanilang nakatatandang kapatid, na dapat sana’y pinakamabigat na gabay, ay hindi naninindigan sa pagpapakumbaba at wastong asal.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Leadership in a family or polity requires vinaya (humility and disciplined conduct). When the senior-most figure refuses ethical restraint, the rest become inert or misguided, and collective ruin becomes likely.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects with anxiety and frustration that his sons remain unresponsive, while their elder brother—expected to guide them—does not follow the path of humility and sound policy, implying a failure of counsel and self-control within the Kaurava camp.