Shloka 5
Āśvamedhika-parva Adhyāya 1 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Lament by the Gaṅgā and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel
तमार्त पतितं भूमौ श्वसन्तं च पुन: पुनः । ददृशुः पार्थिवा राजन् धर्मपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम्
tam ārtaṃ patitaṃ bhūmau śvasantaṃ ca punaḥ punaḥ | dadṛśuḥ pārthivā rājan dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram ||
രാജാവേ! അവിടെ കൂടിയിരുന്ന എല്ലാ ഭൂപാലരും ധർമ്മപുത്രനായ യുധിഷ്ഠിരൻ ശോകാർത്തനായി ഭൂമിയിൽ വീണുകിടന്ന്, വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും ദീർഘനിശ്വാസങ്ങൾ വിടുന്നതു കണ്ടു.
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight borne by a righteous ruler: even after victory, dharma includes accountability for suffering caused, and grief can be a truthful response to the costs of power and war.
A gathering of kings witnesses Yudhiṣṭhira lying on the ground in deep distress, repeatedly sighing; the scene signals his continuing sorrow and inner turmoil in the period leading into the Aśvamedha-related events.