Shloka 5
Vidura’s Recall from Kāmyaka-vana and Reconciliation with Dhṛtarāṣṭra (विदुरानयनम् / क्षमायाचनम्)
अथ पश्याम्यहं पार्थान् प्राप्तानिह कथंचन । पुन: शोषं गमिष्यामि निरम्बुर्निरवग्रह:,“यदि मैं किसी प्रकार पाण्डवोंको यहाँ आया देख लूँगा तो जलका भी परित्याग करके स्वेच्छासे अपने शरीरको सुखा डालूँगा
atha paśyāmy ahaṃ pārthān prāptān iha kathaṃcana | punaḥ śoṣaṃ gamiṣyāmi nirambur niravagrahaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “Kung sa anumang paraan ay makita kong dumating dito ang mga anak ni Pṛthā, muli akong magpapasailalim sa pagpapatuyo sa sarili—walang tubig, walang pagpipigil—kusang hahayaan kong mangayayat at malanta ang aking katawan.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the intensity of resolve born from grief and longing: a person may take extreme vows (here, water-abstinence and self-mortification) to reach a desired meeting. Ethically, it points to the power—and danger—of uncompromising determination when driven by emotional distress.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a speaker expresses that if he can somehow see the Pāṇḍavas here, he will again undertake severe austerity—renouncing even water—allowing his body to dry up, indicating a drastic vow tied to the hope of encountering them.