Shloka 9
Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna Saṃvāda in Indraprastha: Consolation, Legitimation, and Leave for Dvārakā (आश्वमेधिकपर्व, अध्याय १५)
भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण सब प्रकारके सिद्धान्तोंको जाननेवाले थे। उन्होंने अर्जुनको विचित्र पद, अर्थ एवं सिद्धान्तोंसे युक्त बड़ी विलक्षण एवं मधुर कथाएँ सुनायीं ।। पुत्रशोकाभिसंतप्तं ज्ञातीनां च सहस्रश: । कथाभि: शमयामास पार्थ शौरिर्जनार्दन:,कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुन पुत्रशोकसे संतप्त थे। सहस्रों भाई-बन्धुओंके मारे जानेका भी उनके मनमें बड़ा दुःख था। वसुदेवनन्दन श्रीकृष्णने अनेक प्रकारकी कथाएँ सुनाकर उस समय पार्थको शान्त किया
putraśokābhisantāptaṁ jñātīnāṁ ca sahasraśaḥ | kathābhiḥ śamayāmāsa pārthaṁ śaurir janārdanaḥ ||
Arjuna, Kuntī’s son, was scorched by grief for his slain son and weighed down by sorrow at the death of thousands of his kinsmen. At that time Śauri Janārdana (Śrī Kṛṣṇa), by recounting many instructive and heart-soothing narratives, calmed and consoled Pārtha—guiding him back toward steadiness amid the moral and emotional aftermath of war.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights compassionate dharmic counsel: after catastrophic violence, even a righteous victor may be overwhelmed by grief and moral weight. Kṛṣṇa responds not with harsh command but with calming, meaning-giving narratives—showing that ethical recovery requires steadiness of mind, perspective on duty and loss, and humane support for those traumatized by war.
After the great war, Arjuna is deeply distressed—both by the death of his son and by the slaughter of countless relatives. Vaiśampāyana narrates that Kṛṣṇa (Śauri Janārdana) comforts him by telling various stories, thereby pacifying Arjuna’s grief and restoring composure.