Shloka 2

Arjuna’s Lament, the End of the Yadus, and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure

Devanagari script

शोकेन शुष्यद्वदनहृत्सरोजो हतप्रभ: । विभुं तमेवानुस्मरन्नाशक्नोत्प्रतिभाषितुम् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

śokena śuṣyad-vadana- hṛt-sarojo hata-prabhaḥ vibhuṁ tam evānusmaran nāśaknot pratibhāṣitum

Translation

Vor Kummer vertrockneten Arjunas Mund und sein lotosgleiches Herz, und der Glanz seines Körpers erlosch. Während er des höchsten Herrn gedachte, konnte er kaum ein Wort zur Antwort hervorbringen.

Synonyms

• शोकेन: with grief
• शोकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुष्यद्वदनहृत्सरोजः: whose face and heart-lotus were drying up
• शुष्यद्वदनहृत्सरोजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष्यत् (कृदन्त; √शुष् + शतृ) + वदन + हृत् + सरोज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: शुष्यद् वदनं यस्य, (शुष्यत्) हृत्सरोजं यस्य

• हतप्रभः: whose radiance was destroyed
• हतप्रभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत (कृदन्त; √हन् + क्त) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: हता प्रभा यस्य

• विभुम्: the all-powerful Lord
• विभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• अनुस्मरन्: remembering
• अनुस्मरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + √स्मृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• अशक्नोत्: was able
• अशक्नोत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शक् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रतिभाषितुम्: to speak in reply
• प्रतिभाषितुम्: Karma (कर्म/क्रियार्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + √भाष् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थक

Characters & Entities

• Yudhishthira
• Krishna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about separation from Krishna (viraha)?

This verse shows that separation can become so intense that a devotee’s strength and composure fade, and only remembrance of the Lord remains—so powerful that speech itself fails.

Why was Yudhishthira unable to speak in Canto 1 Chapter 15?

Because grief had overtaken him after Krishna’s departure; absorbed in remembering the Supreme Lord, his radiance faded and he could not reply.

Practical application of remembering Krishna during grief in modern life?

When loss or anxiety arises, repeatedly return the mind to sincere remembrance of God; it may not remove emotions instantly, but it anchors the heart in what is eternal.