Shloka 16
Arjuna’s Absence, Bhīma’s Kṣātra-Dharma Appeal, and Bṛhadaśva’s Arrival
Nala-Upākhyāna Begins
ममापि वचन सूत न शुश्रूषति मन्दभाक् । दृष्टवा मां चक्षुषा हीन॑ निर्विचेष्टमचेतसम्,सूत! वह मन्दभागी दुर्योधन मुझे अन्धा, अकर्मण्य और अविवेकी समझकर मेरी बात भी नहीं सुनना चाहता
mamāpi vacanaṃ sūta na śuśrūṣati mandabhāk | dṛṣṭvā māṃ cakṣuṣā hīnaṃ nirviceṣṭam acetasam ||
Sinabi ni Dhṛtarāṣṭra: “Sūta, kahit ang aking mga salita’y hindi pinakikinggan ng malas na iyon. Sa pagtingin niyang ako’y salat sa paningin—walang magawa at kulang sa paghatol—hinahamak niya ako at tumatangging makinig.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical failure of disregarding wise counsel—especially from elders—and shows how pride and contempt corrode dharma. It also points to the tragedy of ‘blindness’ in two forms: physical blindness in the king and moral/intellectual blindness in the one who refuses guidance.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra laments to the Sūta that Duryodhana will not listen even to his father’s words. Duryodhana, seeing the blind king as powerless and lacking discernment, dismisses his advice and acts independently.