Shloka 396
शल्यपर्वणि प्रथमाध्यायः — Karṇa-vadha-anantaraṃ Śalya-niyogaḥ, Saṃjayasya Dhṛtarāṣṭra-nivedanam
निपपात स राजेन्द्रो गतसत्त्वो महीतले । वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! यह क्रूर वचन सुनकर राजाधिराज जनेश्वर धृतराष्ट्र प्राणहीन-से होकर पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़े
nipapāta sa rājendro gatasattvo mahītale |
Vaiśampāyana said: O Janamejaya, on hearing those harsh words, the lord of kings Dhṛtarāṣṭra collapsed upon the earth, his vital strength seemingly gone—overwhelmed by grief and shock.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how cruel or harsh speech can strike with the force of a weapon, triggering collapse in those already burdened by sorrow; it also underscores the human cost of adharma and war, where even kings are reduced to helpless grief.
Within Vaiśampāyana’s narration to King Janamejaya, Dhṛtarāṣṭra hears a cruel statement (from the surrounding context) and, unable to bear the shock and grief, falls to the ground as if lifeless.