धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनप्रस्थानम् — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Departure for Forest Life
न हि त्वां गौरवेणाहमशकं वक्तुमञण्जसा । गमन॑ प्रति राजेन्द्र तदिदं समुपस्थितम्
na hi tvāṃ gauraveṇāham aśakaṃ vaktum añjasā | gamanaṃ prati rājendra tad idaṃ samupasthitam ||
“Vì kính trọng huynh nên đệ không thể nói thẳng. Nhưng nay, ôi bậc vương thượng, việc lên đường đã đến ngay trước mắt chúng ta.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights an ethical tension: reverence can restrain frank speech, yet when duty demands clarity—especially regarding a decisive step like departure—one must speak plainly and face the situation as it has arisen.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a king, explaining that he previously hesitated to speak directly out of respect, but now the issue of leaving/setting out has become immediate and unavoidable.