Shloka 9
Śama-prāptiḥ — Gautamī–Lubdhaka–Pannaga–Mṛtyu–Kāla-saṃvāda
Restraint through the Analysis of Karma and Time
सो5हं तव हान्तकर: सुहृद्वधकरस्तथा । न शान्तिमधिगच्छामि पश्यंस्त्वां दुःखितं क्षितौ
so 'haṃ tava hāntakaraḥ suhṛd-vadhakaraḥ tathā | na śāntim adhigacchāmi paśyaṃs tvāṃ duḥkhitaṃ kṣitau ||
Dijo Yudhiṣṭhira: «Yo soy quien ha causado tu muerte, y asimismo el matador de otros amigos queridos. Al verte yacer en la tierra en tan gran desdicha, no hallo paz.»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical burden of violence: even when war is undertaken under the banner of duty, the agent may still experience profound remorse and a loss of inner peace upon witnessing the suffering caused—especially to elders and loved ones.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a grievously afflicted elder lying on the battlefield, confessing that he feels personally responsible for the death and slaughter of dear ones; the sight of the elder’s suffering leaves him unable to find peace.