Shloka 31
Svargārohaṇa-parva Adhyāya 2 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry for His Kin and the Vision of a Punitive Realm
स संनिवृत्तो धर्मात्मा दुःखशोकसमाहत: । शुश्राव तत्र वदतां दीना वाच: समन्ततः,दुःख और शोकसे पीड़ित हुए धर्मात्मा युधिष्ठिर ज्यों ही वहाँसे लौटने लगे त्यों ही उन्हें चारों ओरसे पुकारनेवाले आर्त मनुष्योंकी दीन वाणी सुनायी पड़ी--
sa saṁnivṛtto dharmātmā duḥkhaśokasamāhataḥ | śuśrāva tatra vadatāṁ dīnā vācaḥ samantataḥ ||
As the righteous-souled one turned back, struck down by grief and sorrow, he heard there—on every side—the pitiable cries of distressed people calling out.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a steadfastly dharmic person can be overwhelmed by sorrow, yet dharma requires attentiveness to the suffering of others; hearing the distressed voices becomes a moral summons to compassion and responsibility.
Yudhiṣṭhira, turning back while burdened by grief, hears anguished cries coming from all directions, indicating the presence of afflicted beings whose calls will shape his next response.