Shloka 7
धृतराष्ट्रस्य उपालम्भः तथा पाण्डव-समाश्वासनम् | Dhṛtarāṣṭra Reproved and the Pāṇḍavas Consoled
वहाँ पाण्डवोंके प्रिय और अप्रिय जनोंके लिये हाथ उठाकर आर्तस्वरसे रोती और करुण क्रन्दन करती हुई सहस्रों महिलाओंने राजा युधिष्ठिरको चारों ओरसे घेर लिया ।। क्व नु धर्मज्ञता राज्ञ: क््व नु साद्यानृशंसता । यच्चावधीत् ३ गुरुपुत्रानू सखीनपि,वे बोलीं--“अहो! वह धर्मज्ञता और दयालुता कहाँ चली गयी कि इन्होंने ताऊ, चाचा, भाई, गुरुपुत्रों और मित्रोंका भी वध कर डाला
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tatra pāṇḍavānāṁ priya-apriya-janān prati bāhūn utthāpya ārta-svarena rudatyaḥ karuṇaṁ krandantyaś ca sahasraśo yoṣitaḥ rājānaṁ yudhiṣṭhiram paritaḥ paryavārayanta || kva nu dharmajñatā rājñaḥ? kva nu sādhv-anṛśaṁsatā? yac cāvadhīt guruputrān sakhīn api || tā ūcuḥ—aho! sā dharmajñatā sā ca dayālūtā kva gatā, yena eṣaḥ pitṛvyaṁ mātulaṁ bhrātṝn guruputrān sakhīn api jaghāna ||
Vaiśampāyana said: There, thousands of women—kin of the Pāṇḍavas, both dear and estranged—raised their hands and, crying in voices of anguish and wailing piteously, surrounded King Yudhiṣṭhira on every side. They lamented: “Where now is the king’s famed knowledge of dharma? Where is his reputed gentleness and compassion, when he has brought about the killing of elders and relatives—uncles, brothers, the sons of teachers, and even friends?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical shock of war’s aftermath: even a ruler celebrated for dharma is publicly confronted with the human cost—dead elders, teachers’ sons, and friends—forcing reflection on how righteous aims can still yield grievous suffering and moral anguish.
In the Strī Parva’s mourning scenes, thousands of grieving women surround King Yudhiṣṭhira, crying out and accusing him—through rhetorical questions—of having lost the compassion and dharma for which he was known, since so many close relations and respected persons have been slain.