Shloka 9
Gāndhārī’s Petition for a Vision of the Departed (गान्धार्याः प्रार्थना—दिव्यदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)
हमारे इस राज्यको धिक्कार है, बल और पराक्रमको धिककार है तथा इस क्षत्रिय- धर्मको भी धिक््कार है! जिससे आज हमलोग मृतकतुल्य जीवन बिता रहे हैं ।।
dhig astu no rājyaṃ dhig balaṃ ca parākramaḥ | dhig ayaṃ kṣatriyadharmaḥ yenādya mṛtakatulyam iva jīvāmaḥ || susūkṣmā kila kālasya gatir dvijavarottama | yat samutsṛjya rājyaṃ sā vanavāsam arocayat ||
العارُ على مملكتنا هذه؛ والعارُ على القوة والبأس؛ والعارُ حتى على ما يُسمّى بواجب الكشاتريا—الذي يجعلنا اليوم نعيش كأننا أموات. يا أفضلَ البراهمة، إن مسيرَ الزمان (كالا) بالغُ الدقة والخفاء؛ وبدافعه تركت الأم كونتي المُلك وآثرت سكنى الغابة.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Yudhiṣṭhira voices a moral crisis: worldly power, martial valor, and even ‘kṣatriya-dharma’ can feel hollow when they culminate in suffering and inner death. The verse also stresses the subtle, often unseen working of Kāla (Time/Fate), which can turn one toward renunciation—exemplified by Kuntī’s choice of forest-life over sovereignty.
In the Āśramavāsika context, after the devastations of the war and the elders’ withdrawal, Yudhiṣṭhira laments the worth of kingship and warrior duty. Addressing a Brahmin, he reflects that Time’s subtle course has led Kuntī to abandon the royal life and prefer living in the forest.