द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय ८७: सात्यकेरनुयात्रा
Sātyaki’s resolve and departure to reach Arjuna
श्रूयते सोडद्य न तथा केकयानां च वेश्मसु । नित्यं प्रमुदितानां च तालगीतस्वनो महान्
śrūyate so 'dya na tathā kekayānāṃ ca veśmasu | nityaṃ pramuditānāṃ ca tālagītasvano mahān ||
“Di rumah-rumah orang Kekaya, bunyi besar tatalagu dan nyanyian—yang biasa terdengar di antara mereka yang senantiasa bersukacita—hari ini tak terdengar seperti sediakala.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
The verse highlights how war and calamity silence ordinary joy: when dharma is shaken and families are struck by loss, even familiar sounds of celebration disappear, revealing the ethical cost of conflict on society.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra observes a troubling change: the Kekayas’ homes, once marked by constant cheerful music and rhythmic accompaniment, are now quiet—an implicit sign of distress and mourning amid the events of the war.