Shloka 2
कर्णसेनापत्यारम्भः — Karṇa’s Appointment and the Report to Dhṛtarāṣṭra
Chapter 1
ते द्रोणमनुशोचन्त: कश्मलाभिहतौजस: । पर्युपासन्त शोकार्तास्तत: शारद्वतीसुतम्
te droṇam anuśocantaḥ kaśmalābhihatāujasaḥ | paryupāsanta śokārtās tataḥ śāradvatīsutam ||
Accablés de chagrin pour Droṇa, la force et l’ardeur brisées par le désespoir, ils s’assirent autour du fils de Śāradvatī, Aśvatthāmā. Égarés et troublés, ils pleurèrent sans cesse leur maître et cherchèrent refuge auprès de son fils au milieu de la désorientation morale de la guerre.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how grief and kaśmala (moral bewilderment) can drain ojas (inner strength), leading people to seek support in familiar authority or kinship. In the epic’s ethical frame, unchecked sorrow and confusion can become a gateway to further harmful choices in war.
After Droṇa’s fall, the Kaurava side is shaken. Lamenting their teacher and overwhelmed by despair, they gather around Aśvatthāmā (Droṇa’s son), sitting close to him as they mourn and look for direction.