Shloka 166
द्रोण–सात्यकि द्वैरथम्
Droṇa and Sātyaki: The Chariot Duel
हा पुत्र इति निः:श्वस्य व्यथितो न््यपतद् भुवि । धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरकी कही हुई यह बात सुनकर अर्जुन व्यथासे पीड़ित हो लंबी साँस खींचते हुए “हा पुत्र” कहकर पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़े
hā putra iti niḥśvasya vyathito nyapatad bhuvi |
Sighing deeply and overwhelmed with anguish, he cried, “Alas, my son!” and collapsed upon the earth—Arjuna, stricken by the words spoken by Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, falling in grief at the moral and personal shock of the moment.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how even the greatest heroes are shaken when dharma, kinship, and the brutal consequences of war collide. It underscores the ethical weight of actions in battle: victory and duty do not erase grief, and moral injury can overwhelm physical strength.
After hearing Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira’s statement, Arjuna is struck by intense sorrow. He exhales a long, heavy sigh, cries out “Alas, my son!”, and collapses to the ground—an outward sign of inner devastation at the news or implication concerning a ‘son’ (putra).