Shloka 11
Adhyāya 8 — Vidura’s Return and the Kaurava Counsel (Āraṇyaka-parva)
अथवा जायमानस्य यच्छीलमनुजायते । श्रूयते तन्महाराज नामृतस्यापसर्पति,किंतु महाराज! जन्मके समय किसी वस्तुका जैसा स्वभाव बन जाता है वह दूर नहीं होता। भले ही वह वस्तु अमृत ही क्यों न हो? यह बात मेरे सुननेमें आयी है। अथवा इस विषयमें भीष्म, द्रोण, विदुर या तुम्हारी क्या सम्मति है? यहाँ जो उचित हो, वह कार्य पहले करना चाहिये, उसीसे तुम्हारे प्रयोजनकी सिद्धि हो सकती है
athavā jāyamānasya yacchīlam anujāyate | śrūyate tan mahārāja nāmṛtasyāpasarpati ||
Sinabi ni Vyāsa: “O dakilang hari, naririnig na ang likas na ugaling kasabay na isinisilang sa tao ay hindi madaling maalis—hindi umaalis, kahit pa ialok ang amṛta. Kaya isaalang-alang mo rin kung ano ang hatol nina Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Vidura, o ng ikaw mismo sa bagay na ito. Ang nararapat ay gawin muna; sa pamamagitan niyon lamang matutupad ang iyong layon.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A person’s inborn disposition (śīla) tends to persist; deep-seated nature is difficult to uproot even by the strongest external means (symbolized by amṛta). Hence one should plan action with realism about character and prioritize what is truly proper (dharma) to achieve one’s aim.
Vyāsa addresses a king and offers counsel: he cites traditional wisdom about the persistence of innate character, then urges the king to weigh the opinions of senior authorities like Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and Vidura, and to undertake the most appropriate course first so that the intended objective is accomplished.