Shloka 3
वैचित्रवीर्य राजानं स रहस्यब्रवीदिदम् । शोचन्तमार्त ध्यायन्तं पुत्राणामनयं तदा,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! तदनन्तर पूर्व और पश्चिम दिशामें आमने-सामने खड़ी हुई दोनों ओरकी सेनाओंको देखकर भूत, भविष्य और वर्तमानका ज्ञान रखनेवाले, सम्पूर्ण वेदवेत्ताओंमें श्रेष्ठ, भरतवंशियोंके पितामह सत्यवतीनन्दन महर्षि भगवान् व्यास, जो होनेवाले भयंकर संग्रामके भावी परिणामको प्रत्यक्ष देख रहे थे, विचित्रवीर्यनन्दन राजा धृतराष्ट्रके पास आये। वे उस समय अपने पुत्रोंके अन्यायका चिन्तन करते हुए शोकमग्न एवं आर्त हो रहे थे। व्यासजीने उनसे एकान्तमें कहा
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
vicitravīrya-rājānaṃ sa rahasyabravīd idam |
śocantam ārta-dhyāyantaṃ putrāṇām anayaṃ tadā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then he (Vyāsa) spoke these words in private to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the son of Vicitravīrya—who at that time was grieving and anxiously brooding over the wrongdoing of his sons.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical burden of rulership: a king’s sorrow is intensified when it arises from awareness of adharma within his own family. Vyāsa’s private counsel implies that moral correction and responsibility—rather than mere lamentation—are required, especially when collective catastrophe (war) is near.
As the armies stand opposed, Vyāsa approaches Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Dhṛtarāṣṭra is grieving and anxiously reflecting on his sons’ unjust conduct. Vyāsa then speaks to him confidentially, setting up a moment of admonition and guidance before the war’s consequences unfold.