Shloka 1
स्त्रीपर्व — अध्याय १५: गान्धारी-युधिष्ठिर-संवादः
Gandhārī’s Confrontation and Consolation of Yudhiṣṭhira
अपना छा | अफ्--#क+ पजञ्चदशो< ध्याय: भीमसेनका गान्धारीको अपनी सफाई देते हुए उनसे क्षमा माँगना, अपना अपराध स्वीकार करना, गान्धारीके दृडटपातस युविष्टिसक पैरोंके नखोंका काला पड़ जाना, अर्जुनका भयभीत होकर श्रीकृष्णके पीछे छिप जाना, पाण्डवोंका अपनी मातासे मिलना, द्रौपदीका विलाप, कुन्तीका आश्वासन तथा गान्धारीका उन दोनोंको धीरज बँधाना वैशम्पायन उवाच तच्छुत्वा वचन तस्या भीमसेनो5थ भीतवत् | गान्धारीं प्रत्युवाचेदं वच: सानुनयं तदा,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! गान्धारीकी यह बात सुनकर भीमसेनने डरे हुएकी भाँति विनयपूर्वक उनकी बातका उत्तर देते हुए कहा--
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tac chrutvā vacanaṃ tasyā bhīmaseno 'tha bhītavat | gāndhārīṃ pratyuvācedaṃ vacaḥ sānunayaṃ tadā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Hearing her words, Bhīmasena—appearing as though afraid—then replied to Gāndhārī with a speech filled with humility and entreaty. The moment frames the ethical weight of accountability after war: the victor must still face the grief-stricken mother and answer with restraint, remorse, and respect.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when one believes one acted for a just cause, the suffering caused—especially in war—demands humility, self-restraint, and readiness to answer the aggrieved with respect. Ethical victory includes accountability and compassionate speech.
After Gāndhārī speaks (in the context of her grief and moral reproach), Bhīma, sensing the gravity of her presence and words, responds to her in a conciliatory, pleading tone—setting up his apology and acceptance of responsibility in the verses that follow.