Shloka 1
Āśvamedhika-parva, Adhyāya 14
Consolation of Yudhiṣṭhira; Rites and Gifts; Return to Hastināpura
अफ--रू- चतुर्दशो 5 ध्याय: ऋषियोंका अन्तर्धान होना, भीष्म आदिका श्राद्ध करके युधिष्ठिर आदिका हस्तिनापुरमें जाना तथा युधिष्ठिरके धर्मराज्यका वर्णन वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं बहुविधैर्वाक्यैर्मुनिभिस्तैस्तपो धनै: । समाश्वस्यत राजर्षिहतबन्धुर्युधिष्ठिर:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--राजन्! इस प्रकार साक्षात् विष्टरश्रवा (विस्तृत यशवाले) भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण, श्रीकृष्णद्वैपायन व्यास, देवस्थान, नारद, भीमसेन, नकुल, द्रौपदी, सहदेव, बुद्धिमान् अर्जुन तथा अन्यान्य श्रेष्ठ पुरुषों और शास्त्रदर्शी ब्राह्मणों एवं तपोधन मुनियोंके बहुविध वचनोंद्वारा समझाने-बुझानेपर जिनके भाई-बन्धु मारे गये थे, उन राजर्षि युधिष्ठिरका मन शान्त हुआ और उन्होंने शोकजनित दुःख तथा मानसिक संतापको त्याग दिया
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | evaṃ bahuvidhair vākyair munibhis tais tapo-dhanaiḥ | samāśvasyata rājārṣiḥ hata-bandhur yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Thus, through many kinds of consoling words spoken by those ascetic sages—rich in spiritual austerity—King Yudhiṣṭhira, the royal seer whose kinsmen had been slain, was comforted and regained composure. The passage frames grief after war within a dharmic ethic: wise counsel and disciplined insight steady the mind, enabling the ruler to return to righteous governance rather than remain consumed by sorrow.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a righteous ruler may be overwhelmed by loss, but dharmic stability is restored through the guidance of spiritually disciplined sages; grief is acknowledged yet transformed into steadiness necessary for just rule.
After the devastating losses of the war, Yudhiṣṭhira is comforted by various sages through many forms of counsel, and his mind becomes calm, preparing him to resume the responsibilities of governance.