Shloka 7
Chapter 5: Dāruka’s Mission, Balarāma’s Yogic Departure, and Kṛṣṇa’s Niṣkramaṇa
तास्तु दृष्टवैव कौरव्यो बाष्पेणापिहितेक्षण: । हीना: कृष्णेन पुत्रैश्ननाशकत् सो$भिवीक्षितुम्,वहाँ पधारे हुए अर्जुनको देखते ही उन स्त्रियोंका आर्तनाद बहुत बढ़ गया। उन सबपर दृष्टि पड़ते ही अर्जुनकी आँखोंमें आँसू भर आये। पुत्रों और श्रीकृष्णसे हीन हुई उन अनाथ अबलाओंकी ओर उनसे देखा नहीं गया
tās tu dṛṣṭvaiva kauravyo bāṣpeṇāpihitekṣaṇaḥ | hīnāḥ kṛṣṇena putraiś ca nāśakat so ’bhivīkṣitum ||
Begitu para perempuan Kuru melihatnya, ratapan mereka kian menjadi. Mata Arjuna terselubung air mata; dan karena mereka telah kehilangan Kṛṣṇa serta putra-putra mereka, keadaan para perempuan tak berdaya itu begitu memilukan hingga Arjuna tak sanggup memandang mereka lama-lama.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds compassion and the ethical gravity of loss: even a heroic figure like Arjuna is overwhelmed when confronted with the suffering of those left unprotected. It underscores the Mahābhārata’s recurring insight that victory and power cannot cancel the human cost of violence and separation.
After the catastrophic events of the Mausala Parva, Arjuna arrives and is seen by the Kuru women. Their wailing intensifies, and Arjuna, seeing them bereft of Kṛṣṇa and their sons, is moved to tears and cannot bear to look upon their helpless state.