Shloka 8
Dhanañjaya-viraha-śoka and the Resolve to Enter Gandhamādana (धनंजय-विरह-शोकः गन्धमादन-प्रवेश-संकल्पश्च)
त॑ वै श्याम गुडाकेशं सिंहविक्रान्तगामिनम् | न पश्यामि महाबाहुं तेन तप्ये वृकोदर,वृकोदर! सिंहके समान मस्तानी चालसे चलनेवाले, निद्राविजयी, श्यामवर्ण, महाबाहु अर्जुनको नहीं देख पा रहा हूँ, इसलिये मेरे मनमें बड़ा संताप हो रहा है
taṁ vai śyāmaṁ guḍākeśaṁ siṁha-vikrānta-gāminam | na paśyāmi mahā-bāhuṁ tena tapye vṛkodara ||
قال يودهيشثيرا: «لا أرى أرجونا ذا اللون القاتم—غوداكِيشا—ذلك البطل عظيم الساعدين الذي يمشي بخطى لا تهاب كخطى الأسد. لذلك، يا فِرِكودارا، تلتهمني اللوعة.»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights righteous concern and responsibility within kinship: a dharmic leader like Yudhiṣṭhira feels moral and emotional distress when a key protector-brother is absent, underscoring the ethical weight of safeguarding one’s family and community.
In the forest-exile context, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīma, lamenting that he cannot see Arjuna—praised as sleep-conquering and lion-striding—and expresses the inner torment caused by Arjuna’s absence.