Shloka 2
Gāndhārī’s Petition for a Vision of the Departed (गान्धार्याः प्रार्थना—दिव्यदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)
दुर्विज्ञेया गतिर्ब्रह्मन् पुरुषाणां मतिर्मम । यत्र वैचित्रवीर्योडसौ दग्ध एवं वनाग्निना,ब्रह्म! मेरा तो ऐसा मत है कि मनुष्योंकी गतिका ठीक-ठीक ज्ञान होना अत्यन्त कठिन है; जब कि विचित्रवीर्यकुमार धृतराष्ट्रको इस तरह दावानलसे दग्ध होकर मरना पड़ा
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | durvijñeyā gatir brahman puruṣāṇāṁ matir mama | yatra vaicitryavīryo ’sau dagdha eva vanāgninā ||
Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „O Brāhmane, nach meinem Dafürhalten ist der Lauf und das Geschick der Menschen überaus schwer zu durchschauen—da selbst Dhṛtarāṣṭra, der Sohn Vicitravīryas, sein Ende finden musste, verbrannt in einer Waldbrandglut.“
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Human destiny (gati) is profoundly difficult to judge; even great and royal figures meet unexpected ends. The verse underscores humility in moral judgment and awareness of impermanence, aligning with dharmic reflection on karma and the unpredictability of outcomes.
Yudhiṣṭhira reflects on the shocking end of Dhṛtarāṣṭra—described as a son/descendant of Vicitravīrya—who perished in a forest wildfire during the forest-dwelling phase, prompting Yudhiṣṭhira to remark on how inscrutable the course of human life can be.