Shloka 4
Bhīmasena’s Counsel on Grief, Inner Conflict, and the Duty of Kingship (भीमसेन-उपदेशः)
'जनेश्वर! मैंने कई बार मनमें निश्चय किया कि “अब नहीं बोलूँगा, नहीं बोलूँगा;' परंतु अधिक दु:ख होनेके कारण बोलना ही पड़ता है। आप मेरी बात सुनें ।।
janeśvara! mayā bahuśo manasi niścayaḥ kṛtaḥ—“idānīṃ na vakṣyāmi, na vakṣyāmi”; kintu duḥkhasya bāhulyāt vaktum eva pravṛtto ’smi. mama vacanaṃ śṛṇu. bhavataḥ sampramoheṇa sarvaṃ saṃśayitaṃ kṛtam; viklavatvaṃ ca naḥ prāptaṃ, abalattvaṃ tathaiva ca.
“人中之主啊，我在心中多次决意：‘如今我不说——不说。’然而悲痛沉重到难以承受，我不得不开口。请听我之言。由于你的迷惘，一切都被抛入疑云；我们也陷入无助的惶乱与软弱。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a leader’s confusion (sampramoha) spreads uncertainty and weakness among others, and it frames truthful speech as a reluctant but necessary duty when suffering and disorder demand counsel.
The speaker addresses a ruler as ‘janeśvara,’ saying he had repeatedly resolved to remain silent but is forced to speak due to overwhelming sorrow; he then blames the ruler’s bewilderment for creating doubt and causing the group to become shaken and weak.