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 ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Nếu bằng cách nào đó ta thấy các con trai của Pṛthā đến đây, thì ta sẽ lại tự làm khô héo mình—không nước, không kiềm chế—tự nguyện để thân xác này mòn mỏi.”
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.