Shloka 38
Jayadratha-rakṣā: Conch Signals and Encirclement of Arjuna
Chapter 79
सोपचारस्तु कृष्णश्न दुःखितां भृशदु:खित: । सिक्त्वाम्भसा समाश्चास्य तत्तदुक्त्वा हितं वच:,तब कमलनयन भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण अत्यन्त दुःखी हो उन सबको होशमें लानेके लिये उपचार करने लगे। उन्होंने अपनी दु:खिनी बहिन सुभद्रापर जल छिड़ककर नाना प्रकारके हितकर वचन कहते हुए उसे आश्वासन दिया। पुत्र-शोकसे मर्माहत हो वह रोती हुई काँप रही थी और अचेत-सी हो गयी थी। उस अवस्थामें भगवानने उससे कहा--
sopacāras tu kṛṣṇaḥ śokaduḥkhitāṁ bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ | siktvāmbhasā samāśvāsya tattan uktvā hitaṁ vacaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Deeply afflicted by grief, Kṛṣṇa began to apply gentle remedies to restore the distraught to composure. Sprinkling water upon his sorrowing sister (Subhadrā) and speaking to her in many ways with words meant for her welfare, he consoled her. Struck to the core by grief for her son, she was weeping, trembling, and had fallen into a near-unconscious state; in that condition the Blessed Lord addressed her—showing that even amid war, compassion, steadiness, and timely counsel are duties toward the suffering.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the midst of warfare and irreversible loss, dharma includes compassionate care: restoring the grieving to steadiness through practical help and beneficial speech (hita-vacana). Kṛṣṇa models ethical leadership by tending first to the suffering mind.
Sañjaya narrates that Kṛṣṇa, himself deeply sorrowful, begins consoling the grief-stricken women. He revives and reassures his sister Subhadrā by sprinkling water and speaking welfare-oriented words, as she trembles and nearly faints from grief for her son.