Shloka 43
एवमुक्त्वा गुडाकेशं धर्मराजो महायशा: । पस्पर्श पुण्यगन्धेन पृष्ठे हस्तेन पार्थिव:,महायशस्वी धर्मराज राजा युधिष्ठिरने निद्राविजयी अर्जुनसे ऐसा कहकर उनकी पीठपर पवित्र सुगन्धसे युक्त अपना हाथ फेरा
evam uktvā guḍākeśaṁ dharmarājo mahāyaśāḥ | pasparśa puṇyagandhena pṛṣṭhe hastena pārthivaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Having spoken thus to Guḍākeśa (Arjuna), the illustrious Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira), the king of great renown, gently touched him on the back with his hand, fragrant with a sacred perfume—an affectionate, dharma-grounded gesture of reassurance amid the strain of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the harsh setting of battle, dharma expresses itself through restraint, care, and moral support. Yudhiṣṭhira’s gentle touch—marked as ‘puṇya’ (auspicious)—models leadership that steadies others through compassion rather than mere command.
After addressing Arjuna (called Guḍākeśa), Yudhiṣṭhira physically reassures him by touching his back with a hand scented with sacred fragrance. Sañjaya narrates this intimate moment of encouragement within the larger turmoil of the Droṇa Parva.