Shloka 18
अथवा विषमं प्राप्प विनष्टा: शाश्वती: समा: । तस्मान्मानसमपव्यग्रं कृत्वा त्वं कुरुनन्दन । कुरु कार्य महोत्साहं मन्यसे यन्नराधिप,“अथवा वे किसी विषम परिस्थितिमें पड़कर सदाके लिये नष्ट हो गये हों। अतः कुरुनन्दन! मनुजेश्वर! आप अपने चित्तको स्वस्थ करके जो ठीक समझमें आवे, वह कार्य पूर्ण उत्साहके साथ करें"
athavā viṣamaṃ prāpya vinaṣṭāḥ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ | tasmān mānasam apavyagraṃ kṛtvā tvaṃ kurunandana | kuru kāryaṃ mahotsāhaṃ manyase yan narādhipa ||
“又或者，他们陷入某种极其险恶的灾厄之中，岁月漫长流逝，早已永远灭亡。故而，噢库鲁族之欢悦，噢人中王者，安定汝心，以大决断实行汝所判为正当之策。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
In uncertainty and fear—when outcomes are unknown and loved ones may be lost—the counsel is to regain mental steadiness (apavyagra-manas) and then act with determined energy on what one judges to be right (kārya), rather than being paralyzed by anxiety.
Vaiśampāyana reports advice given to a Kuru prince/king: since those being sought may have met disaster long ago, the ruler should not remain mentally unsettled but should compose himself and decisively undertake the appropriate course of action.