Mahabharata 7.71.3 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 71, Shloka 3
अध्याय ७१ — द्रोणव्यूहरक्षा तथा समकालीन द्वन्द्वयुद्धानि
Protection of Droṇa’s formation and parallel duels
आहोस्विदन्ततो नष्ट श्राद्ध शूद्रीपताविव । स एवमुक्तः प्रत्याह प्राउजलि: सृज्जयस्तदा
āhosvid antato naṣṭaṃ śrāddhaṃ śūdrīpatāv iva | sa evam uktaḥ pratyāha prāñjaliḥ sṛñjayas tadā ||
“کیا ایسا تو نہیں کہ جیسے شُودر طبقے کی عورت سے ممنوع تعلق رکھنے والے برہمن کا دیا ہوا شرادھ دان بے اثر ہو جاتا ہے، ویسے ہی میری باتیں بھی آخرکار بے سود رہ گئیں؟” یہ کہہ کر، اُس وقت سِرنجَے نے ہاتھ جوڑ کر جواب دیا۔
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical idea that actions and words can lose their intended efficacy when compromised by adharma; it uses the analogy of a ritual (śrāddha) becoming ineffective under a condition of moral/ritual transgression, stressing integrity as a prerequisite for meaningful outcomes.
Vyāsa voices a doubt that his counsel or statement may have become ultimately futile, comparing it to an invalidated śrāddha. In response, Sṛñjaya answers respectfully with folded hands, signaling deference to Vyāsa and the seriousness of the moral concern being raised.
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