Shloka 17
Arjuna’s Mantra-Empowerment and the Pāṇḍavas’ Separation (Śiva-rūpa through Mantra)
ईदृशं चैव दुःखं च पुरा प्राप्तश्च कश्चन । वयमेव परं दुःखं प्राप्ता वै नैव कश्चन
īdṛśaṃ caiva duḥkhaṃ ca purā prāptaśca kaścana | vayameva paraṃ duḥkhaṃ prāptā vai naiva kaścana
Hat je jemand in früheren Zeiten ein Leid wie dieses erfahren? Niemand, ganz und gar niemand—nur wir sind wahrhaft in den äußersten Kummer gefallen.
Suta Goswami (narrating the lament of the afflicted characters within the story)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse voices the peak of human despair, a moment that Shaiva teaching uses to redirect the soul (paśu) from helplessness toward surrender to Pati—Lord Shiva—who alone can cut the bonds (pāśa) of grief and delusion.
Such lament typically functions as the narrative trigger for taking refuge in Shiva’s accessible, compassionate form (Saguna Shiva), often expressed through Linga-worship—turning suffering into devotion, prayer, and reliance on Shiva’s grace.
A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and, where customary, worship with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as supports for remembrance of Shiva during distress.