Jayadratha-rakṣā: Conch Signals and Encirclement of Arjuna
Chapter 79
विसंज्ञकल्पां रुदतीं मर्मविद्धां प्रवेषतीम् । भगिनीं पुण्डरीकाक्ष इदं वचनमत्रवीत्,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--
visañjñakalpāṁ rudatīṁ marmaviddhāṁ praveśatīm | bhaginīṁ puṇḍarīkākṣa idaṁ vacanam abravīt ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing his sister entering in a state like unconsciousness—weeping, trembling, and pierced to the core by grief—Puṇḍarīkākṣa (Kṛṣṇa, the lotus-eyed one) spoke these words to her. The scene underscores compassionate duty amid war: even in the midst of catastrophic loss, Kṛṣṇa turns first to restoring composure and offering consoling, welfare-oriented counsel to the bereaved.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights compassionate dharma: in the aftermath of violence and loss, the righteous response includes restoring the afflicted person’s steadiness and offering words aimed at their welfare, not merely sharing in despair.
Subhadrā (Kṛṣṇa’s sister), overwhelmed by grief and nearly unconscious, comes forward weeping; Kṛṣṇa, described as lotus-eyed, addresses her—setting up a consoling speech in the following verses.