Shloka 6
Chapter 26: Śoka-pratiṣedha, Hata-saṅkhyā, Gati-vibhāga, Pretakārya-ājñā
Restraint of Grief, Count of the Slain, Destinies, and Funerary Directives
वैशम्पायन उवाच तच्छुत्वा वासुदेवस्य पुनरुक्तं वचो5प्रियम् । तूष्णीं बभूव गान्धारी शोकव्याकुललोचना,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! श्रीकृष्णका दुबारा कहा हुआ वह अप्रिय वचन सुनकर गान्धारी चुप हो गयी। उसके नेत्र शोकसे व्याकुल हो उठे थे
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tac chrutvā vāsudevasya punar uktaṃ vaco 'priyam | tūṣṇīṃ babhūva gāndhārī śoka-vyākula-locanā ||
വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—വാസുദേവന്റെ ആ അപ്രിയവചനം വീണ്ടും കേട്ടപ്പോൾ ഗാന്ധാരി മൗനമായി; ദുഃഖം കൊണ്ട് വ്യാകുലമായ അവളുടെ കണ്ണുകൾ കലങ്ങിപ്പോയി.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical psychology of aftermath: when loss is total, even well-meant or truthful speech can be experienced as 'apriya' (unwelcome). Grief (śoka) can compel restraint and silence, showing how dharma-discourse must account for the listener’s wounded state.
Vaiśampāyana narrates to King Janamejaya that Gāndhārī, upon hearing Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) repeat an unpleasant statement, does not respond; she remains silent, her eyes troubled by intense sorrow.