Shloka 18
इतिकर्तव्यतां चेति देशकालविभागवित् | नाभिपेदे महाबाहुश्चिन्तयानो महामति:
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
itikartavyatāṃ ceti deśakālavibhāgavit |
nābhipede mahābāhuś cintayāno mahāmatiḥ ||
dharmaputro mahābāhur vilalāpa suvistaram ||
وَیشَمپایَن نے کہا— “اب کیا کرنا چاہیے؟” یہ سوچتے ہوئے، دیس و کال کی تقسیم کو خوب جاننے والا مہابُدھی مہاباہو دھرم پتر یُدھشٹھِر بھی بہت غور و فکر کے باوجود کسی فیصلے تک نہ پہنچ سکا۔ غم سے مغلوب ہو کر وہ دیر تک نوحہ کرتا رہا۔
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a person grounded in dharma and skilled in situational judgment (deśa-kāla) can be temporarily paralyzed by grief; the verse highlights the tension between ethical discernment and overwhelming emotion, implying that clarity of duty may require steadiness of mind in addition to knowledge.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes Yudhiṣṭhira as deeply distressed and unable to decide what to do, despite his reputation for wisdom and discernment; he laments at length, indicating a moment of crisis where judgment does not immediately yield action.