Shloka 1
कर्णनिधनश्रवणम् — Hearing of Karṇa’s Fall and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament
/ अपन क्ात बछ। अकाल पञठ्चमो<ध्याय: संजयका धृतराष्ट्रको कौरवपक्षके मारे गये प्रमुख वीरोंका परिचय देना वैशम्पायन उवाच इति श्रुत्वा महाराज धृतराष्ट्रोडम्बिकासुत: । अब्रवीत् संजयं सूतं शोकसंविग्नमानस:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--महाराज! उपर्युक्त समाचार सुनकर अम्बिकानन्दन धृतराष्ट्रका हृदय शोकसे व्याकुल हो गया। वे अपने सारथि संजयसे इस प्रकार बोले --
vaiśampāyana uvāca | iti śrutvā mahārāja dhṛtarāṣṭro ’mbikāsutaḥ | abravīt sañjayaṃ sūtaṃ śokasaṃvignamānasaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: O King, having heard that report, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the son of Ambikā, his mind shaken by grief, addressed Sañjaya the charioteer in these words. The scene underscores how the calamities of war return first as inner suffering—grief and moral disquiet—before they become counsel or action.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical aftermath of violence: news of deaths in war first manifests as inner turmoil. Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s grief signals the burden of responsibility and the psychological cost of choices that enabled the conflict.
After hearing the latest report (from Sañjaya’s narration of the battle), Dhṛtarāṣṭra becomes overwhelmed with sorrow and begins to question or address Sañjaya, setting up the ensuing account of fallen warriors and the unfolding events.