Shloka 573
धृष्टद्युम्नस्य द्रोणरथारोহণं सात्यकेः प्रतिरक्षणं च | Dhrishtadyumna Boards Droṇa’s Chariot; Sātyaki’s Counter-Protection
द्रौपदी चैव दुःखातें ते च वक्ष्यामि कि नन््वहम् । अभिमन्युको न देखकर सुभद्रा मुझे क्या कहेगी? द्रौपदी भी मुझसे किस प्रकार वार्तालाप करेगी? इन दोनों दुःखकातर देवियोंको मैं क्या जवाब दूँगा?
draūpadī caiva duḥkhārte te ca vakṣyāmi kiṁ nv aham | abhimanyau na dṛṣṭe subhadrā māṁ kiṁ vadiṣyati | draūpadī’pi mayā sārdhaṁ kathaṁ vā saṁbhāṣiṣyate | etad-duḥkha-parītābhyāṁ devībhyāṁ kiṁ vadiṣyāmy aham ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Draupadī dan Subhadrā—dua permaisuri itu—ketika diliputi duka, apa yang dapat kukatakan kepada mereka? Jika Abhimanyu tak tampak, apa yang akan dikatakan Subhadrā kepadaku? Dan bagaimana mungkin Draupadī sanggup berbicara denganku? Jawaban apa yang dapat kuberikan kepada dua wanita mulia yang tertimpa nestapa itu?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech in times of tragedy: conveying painful truth is itself a dharmic burden. It underscores compassion and responsibility toward the bereaved, and the human cost of war beyond victory and defeat.
After Abhimanyu’s fall in battle, Sañjaya anticipates the grief of Subhadrā and Draupadī and worries how he can face them or answer their questions when Abhimanyu is no longer to be seen.