Shloka 6
Chapter 10: Survivors Console the Royal Couple and Disperse (धृतराष्ट्र–गान्धारी प्रति निवेदनम्)
वहाँ राजाके पास पहुँचकर अत्यन्त शोकमें डूबी हुई वे सारी स्त्रियाँ एक-दूसरीको पुकार-पुकारकर परस्पर गलेसे लग गयीं और जोर-जोरसे फूट-फ़ूटकर रोने लगीं ।। ता: समाश्वासयत क्षत्ता ताभ्यश्षार्ततर: स्वयम् । अश्रुकण्ठी: समारोप्य ततो5सौ निर्ययौ पुरात्,विदुरजीने उन सब स्त्रियोंको आश्वासन दिया। वे स्वयं भी उनसे अधिक आर्त हो गये थे। आँसुओंसे गदगद कण्ठ हुई उन सबको रथपर चढ़ाकर वे नगरसे बाहर निकले
tāḥ samāśvāsayat kṣattā tābhyaś cārtataraḥ svayam | aśrukaṇṭhīḥ samāropya tato 'sau niryayau purāt ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Vidura, the chamberlain, tried to console those women; yet he himself was even more afflicted than they. When their throats were choked with tears, he helped them up onto the chariot, and then he led them out from the city. The scene underscores a dharmic response to catastrophe: compassionate care for the grieving, even when the caregiver is personally overwhelmed by sorrow.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid overwhelming personal sorrow, dharma expresses itself as compassionate action—consoling the afflicted, providing practical support, and guiding the vulnerable to safety. Vidura embodies ethical steadiness: he does not deny grief, but he channels it into care.
After reaching the king’s vicinity, the women break down in mutual embraces and loud weeping. Vidura (the kṣattā) attempts to reassure them; though he is himself deeply pained, he helps the tear-choked women onto a chariot and then departs with them out of the city.