Shloka 2
Bhīṣma Parva, Adhyāya 4 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Vyāsa Saṃvāda on Kāla and Jayalakṣaṇa
Signs of Victory
स मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा विनि:श्वस्य मुहुर्मुहुः । संजयं संशितात्मानमपृच्छद् भरतर्षभ,भरतश्रेष्ठ) दो घड़ीतक सोचने-विचारनेके पश्चात् बारंबार लंबी साँस खींचते हुए उन्होंने विशुद्ध हृदयवाले संजयसे पूछा--
sa muhūrtam iva dhyātvā viniḥśvasya muhur muhuḥ | sañjayaṃ saṃśitātmānam apṛcchad bharatarṣabhaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Setelah merenung sejenak seakan hanya sesaat, ia berkali-kali menarik napas panjang dan berat; lalu sang banteng di antara Bharata bertanya kepada Sañjaya yang berjiwa teguh dan terkendali—menandai beban batin sang raja saat ia mencari nasihat yang benar.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical role of steady-minded counsel in times of crisis: a ruler burdened by fear and responsibility turns to a disciplined witness (Sañjaya). It implicitly values self-control (saṃśitātman) and truthful reporting as supports for dharma when emotions threaten clear judgment.
Within Vaiśampāyana’s narration, Dhṛtarāṣṭra pauses to reflect, repeatedly sighs in distress, and then asks Sañjaya a question. The scene sets Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s anxious state and frames Sañjaya as the reliable reporter of events on the battlefield.