Shloka 2
Akrūra in Hastināpura: Kuntī’s Lament and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Moral Instruction
श्रीशुक उवाच स गत्वा हास्तिनपुरं पौरवेन्द्रयशोऽङ्कितम् । ददर्श तत्राम्बिकेयं सभीष्मं विदुरं पृथाम् ॥ १ ॥ सहपुत्रं च बाह्लीकं भारद्वाजं सगौतमम् । कर्णं सुयोधनं द्रौणिं पाण्डवान् सुहृदोऽपरान् ॥ २ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca sa gatvā hāstinapuraṁ pauravendra-yaśo-’ṅkitam dadarśa tatrāmbikeyaṁ sa-bhīṣmaṁ viduraṁ pṛthām
Śukadeva sprach: Akṛūra ging nach Hastināpura, der Stadt, die durch den Ruhm der Paurava-Könige ausgezeichnet war. Dort sah er Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Bhīṣma, Vidura und Pṛthā (Kuntī) sowie Bāhlika mit seinem Sohn Somadatta. Er sah auch Droṇācārya, Kṛpācārya, Karṇa, Suyodhana, Drauṇi (Aśvatthāmā), die Pāṇḍavas und andere vertraute Freunde.
FAQs
‘Ambikeya’ refers to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the son of Ambikā, whom the visitor sees in Hastināpura along with other Kuru elders.
This verse situates the Bhagavatam’s Krishna-centered narrative within the historical Kuru court, showing who was present in Hastināpura at that time and linking Krishna’s pastimes with the Mahābhārata setting.
It reminds us that spiritual history is lived among real people and relationships—so one should seek dharma and devotion even within complex family, social, and political environments.