Shloka 2
Akrūra in Hastināpura: Kuntī’s Lament and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Moral Instruction
श्रीशुक उवाच स गत्वा हास्तिनपुरं पौरवेन्द्रयशोऽङ्कितम् । ददर्श तत्राम्बिकेयं सभीष्मं विदुरं पृथाम् ॥ १ ॥ सहपुत्रं च बाह्लीकं भारद्वाजं सगौतमम् । कर्णं सुयोधनं द्रौणिं पाण्डवान् सुहृदोऽपरान् ॥ २ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca sa gatvā hāstinapuraṁ pauravendra-yaśo-’ṅkitam dadarśa tatrāmbikeyaṁ sa-bhīṣmaṁ viduraṁ pṛthām
Śukadeva berkata: Akrūra pergi ke Hastināpura, kota yang ditandai oleh kemuliaan para raja Paurava. Di sana ia melihat Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Bhīṣma, Vidura dan Pṛthā (Kuntī), serta Bāhlika bersama putranya Somadatta. Ia juga melihat Droṇācārya, Kṛpācārya, Karṇa, Suyodhana, Drauṇi (Aśvatthāmā), para Pāṇḍava dan sahabat-sahabat dekat lainnya.
FAQs
‘Ambikeya’ refers to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the son of Ambikā, whom the visitor sees in Hastināpura along with other Kuru elders.
This verse situates the Bhagavatam’s Krishna-centered narrative within the historical Kuru court, showing who was present in Hastināpura at that time and linking Krishna’s pastimes with the Mahābhārata setting.
It reminds us that spiritual history is lived among real people and relationships—so one should seek dharma and devotion even within complex family, social, and political environments.