Shloka 2

Vyāsa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira: Pratismṛti-vidyā, Arjuna’s Aśtra-Quest, and the Move to Kāmyaka

Devanagari script

विविक्ते विदितप्रज्ञमर्जुनं पुरुषर्षभ । सान्त्वपूर्व स्मितं कृत्वा पाणिना परिसंस्पृशन्‌,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--नरश्रेष्ठ जनममेजय! कुछ कालके अनन्तर धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरको व्यासजीके संदेशका स्मरण हो आया। तब उन्होंने परम बुद्धिमान्‌ अर्जुनसे एकान्तमें वार्तालाप किया। शत्रुओंका दमन करनेवाले धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने दो घड़ीतक वनवासके विषयमें चिन्तन करके किंचित्‌ मुसकराते हुए अर्जुनके शरीरको हाथसे स्पर्श किया और एकान्तमें उन्हें सान्त्वना देते हुए इस प्रकार कहा

Transliteration

vivikte viditaprajñam arjunaṁ puruṣarṣabha | sāntvapūrvaṁ smitaṁ kṛtvā pāṇinā parisaṁspṛśan |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana berkata: Di tempat yang sunyi, (Yudhiṣṭhira) mendekati Arjuna yang dikenal berketetapan budi; dengan senyum lembut penuh penghiburan, ia menyentuhnya dengan tangan.

Word by Word

विविक्तेin a secluded place

विदितप्रज्ञम्him whose wisdom is well-known

अर्जुनम्Arjuna

पुरुषर्षभO bull among men (best of men)

सान्त्वपूर्वम्preceded by consolation / as a preface of soothing

स्मितम्a smile

कृत्वाhaving done / having made

पाणिनाwith the hand

परिसंस्पृशन्touching (all around / gently)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Arjuna

Janamejaya (implied by puruṣarṣabha address in the narrative frame)

Yudhiṣṭhira (implied as the one consoling/touching, per Gītā Press context)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical leadership through empathy: before giving counsel, a righteous elder-brother/king approaches privately, softens the moment with a reassuring smile and touch, and speaks in a consoling manner—showing that dharmic guidance should be delivered with sensitivity and respect.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the frame narration, Vaiśampāyana describes a private moment where Arjuna is met in seclusion; Yudhiṣṭhira, preparing to speak confidentially, reassures him with a gentle smile and a supportive touch, setting the tone for a consoling conversation.