Shloka 86
Kṛṣṇa at Duryodhana’s House: Refusal of Hospitality and Departure to Vidura (कृष्णस्य धार्तराष्ट्रनिवेशनगमनम्)
यत् तु सा बृहती श्यामा एकवस्त्रा सभां गता | अशृणोत् परुषा वाच: कि नु दुःखतरं ततः:,'राज्य छिन गया, यह कोई दुःखका कारण नहीं है। जूएमें हार जाना भी दुःखका कारण नहीं है। मेरे पुत्रोंको वनमें भेज दिया गया, इससे भी मुझे दुःख नहीं हुआ है; परंतु मेरी श्रेष्ठ सुन्दरी वधूको एक वस्त्र धारण किये जो सभामें जाना पड़ा और दुष्टोंकी कठोर बातें सुननी पड़ीं, इससे बढ़कर महान् दुःखकी बात और क्या हो सकती है?
yat tu sā bṛhatī śyāmā ekavastrā sabhāṃ gatā | aśṛṇot paruṣā vācaḥ ki nu duḥkhataraṃ tataḥ ||
But that dark-complexioned, noble lady—great in dignity—went into the royal assembly wearing only a single garment, and there she had to hear harsh, cruel words. What sorrow could be greater than that?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse identifies the gravest suffering as the public dishonoring of a virtuous woman and the court’s tolerance of cruel speech. It implies that social and political losses are secondary to the ethical catastrophe of adharma in a royal assembly—where protection of dignity and restraint of speech are central duties.
The speaker recalls the moment when the noble dark-hued lady is brought into the royal assembly with only a single garment and is subjected to harsh, abusive words. This scene is presented as the most unbearable grief, surpassing the loss of kingdom, defeat at dice, and exile.