Shloka 543
Duryodhana’s Post-Duel Lament and Instructions (भग्नसक्थस्य विलापः)
भक्तिर्भरतशार्दूल स्नेहश्वापि स्वभावत: । “महाबाहो! भरतवंशके सिंह! आप जानते हैं कि धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरके मनमें आपके प्रति कितनी भक्ति और कितना स्वाभाविक स्नेह है
bhaktir bharataśārdūla snehāś cāpi svabhāvataḥ | mahābāho bharatavaṃśake siṃha jānāsi dharmarāja-yudhiṣṭhirasya te prati kati bhaktir kati ca svābhāvikaḥ snehaḥ |
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai harimau di antara kaum Bharata, bakti dan kasih pun timbul dari kodrat seseorang. Wahai berlengan perkasa, singa wangsa Bharata, engkau mengetahui betapa besar bakti dan betapa tulus, alami kasih yang Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira simpan bagimu.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that devotion (bhakti) and affection (sneha) can be innate and ethically significant: genuine loyalty and love—especially within righteous kingship (dharma)—need not be calculated but may arise naturally, guiding honorable relationships even amid conflict.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a heroic figure with dynastic honorifics, emphasizing that Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira holds deep, natural devotion and affection toward that person—underscoring Yudhiṣṭhira’s disposition and the moral-emotional bonds shaping decisions in the Shalya Parva context.