Śoka-śamana: Kṛṣṇa’s Consolation and Nārada’s Exempla to Sṛñjaya
Chapter 29
सम्प्रगृह्य महाबाहुर्भुजं चन्दनभूषितम् । शैलस्तम्भोपमं शौरिरुवाचाभिविनोदयन्
sampragṛhya mahābāhur bhujaṃ candanabhūṣitam | śailastambhopamaṃ śaurir uvācābhivinodayan ||
तब महाबाहु शौरि (गोविन्द) ने चन्दन से चर्चित, शैल-स्तम्भ के समान दृढ़ उनकी भुजा को हाथ में लेकर, उन्हें सान्त्वना देते हुए इस प्रकार कहना आरम्भ किया।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Ethical instruction is most effective when delivered with compassion: the verse highlights Kṛṣṇa’s method of guiding Yudhiṣṭhira by first soothing his agitation, preparing him to receive dharma-centered counsel rather than reacting from grief or guilt.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Kṛṣṇa (Śauri) physically takes hold of an arm described as sandalwood-anointed and pillar-like in firmness, and begins speaking in a way meant to entertain/comfort—signaling the start of a consoling discourse to Yudhiṣṭhira in the Śānti Parva setting.