Shloka 2
कर्णसेनापत्यारम्भः — Karṇa’s Appointment and the Report to Dhṛtarāṣṭra
Chapter 1
ते द्रोणमनुशोचन्त: कश्मलाभिहतौजस: । पर्युपासन्त शोकार्तास्तत: शारद्वतीसुतम्,मोहवश उनका बल और उत्साह नष्ट-सा हो गया था। वे द्रोणाचार्यके लिये बारंबार चिन्ता करते हुए शोकसे व्याकुल हो कृपीकुमार अश्वत्थामाके पास उसके चारों ओर बैठ गये
te droṇam anuśocantaḥ kaśmalābhihatāujasaḥ | paryupāsanta śokārtās tataḥ śāradvatīsutam ||
Mereka meratapi Droṇa; kekuatan dan semangat mereka seakan hancur dipukul putus asa. Dalam dukacita dan kekeliruan, mereka duduk mengelilingi putera Śāradvatī, Aśvatthāmā, berkali-kali merintih mengenang guru mereka dan berlindung pada anaknya di tengah kaburnya pedoman perang.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how grief and kaśmala (moral bewilderment) can drain ojas (inner strength), leading people to seek support in familiar authority or kinship. In the epic’s ethical frame, unchecked sorrow and confusion can become a gateway to further harmful choices in war.
After Droṇa’s fall, the Kaurava side is shaken. Lamenting their teacher and overwhelmed by despair, they gather around Aśvatthāmā (Droṇa’s son), sitting close to him as they mourn and look for direction.