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,राजन! वहाँ आये हुए समस्त भूपालोंने देखा कि धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिर शोकार्त होकर पृथ्वीपर पड़े हैं और बारंबार लंबी साँस खींच रहे हैं
tam ārtaṃ patitaṃ bhūmau śvasantaṃ ca punaḥ punaḥ | dadṛśuḥ pārthivā rājan dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: Wahai Raja, semua pemerintah yang berhimpun di situ melihat Dharmaputra Yudhiṣṭhira rebah di bumi dalam kesengsaraan, berulang kali menarik nafas panjang—tanda zahir beban dukacita dan tanggungjawab yang mengendap selepas perang.
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.