Shloka 3
Āśvamedhika-parva, Adhyāya 14
Consolation of Yudhiṣṭhira; Rites and Gifts; Return to Hastināpura
नारदेनाथ भीमेन नकुलेन च पार्थिव । कृष्णया सहदेवेन विजयेन च धीमता
nāradenātha bhīmena nakulena ca pārthiva | kṛṣṇayā sahadevena vijayena ca dhīmatā ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: O king, Narada, Bhima, Nakula, Draupadi, Sahadeva, and the wise Vijaya (Arjuna) joined in consoling Yudhiṣṭhira through many kinds of counsel. Persuaded by the words of these eminent men—together with other learned Brahmins and ascetics—Yudhiṣṭhira, whose kinsmen had been slain, became calm in mind and cast off grief-born sorrow and inner torment.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even justified victory can leave moral and emotional wounds; dharmic counsel from sages and righteous companions helps a ruler regain steadiness, relinquish destructive grief, and return to responsible kingship.
After the great war, Yudhiṣṭhira is overwhelmed by sorrow for the slain. Narada and the Pāṇḍavas (with Draupadī and Arjuna) speak to him in many ways, and their guidance calms his mind so he abandons grief and mental anguish.