Shloka 19

Gāndhārī’s Petition for a Vision of the Departed (गान्धार्याः प्रार्थना—दिव्यदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

तच्छुत्वा रुरुदु: सर्वे समालिड्ग्य परस्परम्‌

Transliteration

tac chrutvā ruruduḥ sarve samāliṅgya parasparam

Translation

فلما سمعوا ذلك انفجروا جميعًا بالبكاء، وتعانقوا بعضهم بعضًا، يتقاسمون الحزن معًا—مظهرًا للرحمة المتبادلة والتضامن في وجه الأسى.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (news/statement)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• रुरुदुः: they wept
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुद् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Plural

• सर्वे: all (of them)
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• समालिङ्ग्य: having embraced
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आलिङ्ग् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• परस्परम्: each other / mutually
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic human response to suffering: shared grief and mutual embrace. It suggests that compassion and solidarity are ethical strengths, not weaknesses, especially when confronting loss.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing distressing news or a painful statement, everyone present begins to weep. They embrace one another, indicating collective mourning and mutual support.