Shloka 12
Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 52: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Strength and the Case for Restraint
तपन्तमभि को मन्द: पतिष्यति पतड्भवत् । पाण्डवाग्निमनावार्य मुमूर्षुर्नष्टचेतन:
tapantam abhi ko mandaḥ patiṣyati pataṅgavat | pāṇḍavāgnim anāvārya mumūrṣur naṣṭacetanaḥ ||
持国王说道：“有谁会愚昧到扑向那炽燃之物——如飞蛾投火？然而心智迷失、求死之人，仍会纵身投入那不可遏止的般度族之火。”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Reckless hostility toward the powerful and righteous is self-destructive: like a moth drawn to flame, a person who has lost discernment rushes into inevitable ruin. The verse warns against delusion, pride, and ignoring prudent counsel.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects anxiously on the looming conflict, portraying the Pāṇḍavas as an unstoppable ‘fire.’ He implies that only someone senseless and courting death would provoke or attack them, hinting at the disastrous course his side is taking.