Shloka 2
Vāsudeva’s Upadeśa: The Inner Enemy and the Indra–Vṛtra Precedent (आत्मशत्रु-बोधः; इन्द्र-वृत्रोपाख्यानम्)
त॑ नृपं दीनमनसं निहतज्ञातिबान्धवम् | उपप्लुतमिवादित्यं सधूममिव पावकम्,जाति-भाइयोंके मारे जानेसे युधिष्ठिरका मन शोकसे दीन एवं व्याकुल हो रहा था। वे राहुग्रस्त सूर्य और धूमयुक्त अग्निके समान निस्तेज हो गये थे। विशेषतः उनका मन राज्यकी ओरसे खिन्न एवं विरक्त हो गया था। यह सब जानकर वृष्णिवंशभूषण श्रीकृष्णने कुन्तीकुमार धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिको आश्वासन देते हुए इस प्रकार कहना आरम्भ किया
taṁ nṛpaṁ dīna-manasaṁ nihata-jñāti-bāndhavam | upaplutam ivādityaṁ sa-dhūmam iva pāvakam ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: King Yudhiṣṭhira, his mind sunk in grief, had lost his kinsmen and relatives. He appeared dimmed, like the sun eclipsed by Rāhu, and like fire veiled in smoke. His heart, especially, had grown weary and detached from kingship. Knowing this, Śrī Kṛṣṇa—the glory of the Vṛṣṇi line—began to speak, offering reassurance to Kuntī’s son, Dharmaputra Yudhiṣṭhira.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and psychological cost of violence: even a righteous victor can be inwardly eclipsed by grief. It sets the stage for Kṛṣṇa’s reassurance—guidance meant to restore clarity, responsibility, and dharmic steadiness in rulership despite personal sorrow.
After the destruction of his kin, Yudhiṣṭhira becomes despondent and loses his luster, compared to an eclipsed sun and smoke-covered fire. Observing his aversion to kingship, Kṛṣṇa begins to address him with consoling counsel.