Shloka 57
प्राणानुपासृजद् वीर: सुहृदां दुःखमुत्सूजन् । अपाक्रामद् दिवं पुण्यां शरीरं क्षितिमाविशत्,“तुम सब लोगोंका कल्याण हो। तुम्हें सुख प्राप्त हो। अब स्वर्गमें ही हमलोगोंका पुनर्मिलन होगा।/ ऐसा कहकर महामनस्वी वीर कुरुराज दुर्योधन चुप हो गया और अपने सुहृदोंके लिये दुःख छोड़कर उसने अपने प्राण त्याग दिये। वह स्वयं तो पुण्यधाम स्वर्गलोकमें चला गया; किंतु उसका पार्थिव शरीर इस पृथ्वीपर ही पड़ा रह गया
prāṇān upāsṛjad vīraḥ suhṛdāṁ duḥkham utsṛjan | apākrāmad divaṁ puṇyāṁ śarīraṁ kṣitim āviśat ||
Sañjaya said: The heroic king released his life-breath, casting off the sorrow that burdened his well-wishers. He departed to the meritorious heaven, while his physical body entered the earth—remaining here upon the ground.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts the metaphysical destiny of the individual (departure to a meritorious heaven) with the human reality of war (grief borne by friends). It suggests that even when a warrior attains a higher posthumous state, the ethical weight of conflict persists among the living.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana relinquishes his life-breath and dies. His self is said to depart to heaven, while his body remains on the earth—marking the end of his role in the war’s unfolding events.