Shloka 9
Droṇanidhana-anantaraṃ sainya-viṣādaḥ and Karṇa-pravṛttiḥ
After Droṇa’s fall: army despondency and Karṇa’s advance
तमेवंवादिनं राजा सूतपुत्रं कृताउ्जलिम् । सुदीर्घमथ नि:श्वस्य दुःखार्त इदमब्रवीत्,हाथ जोड़कर ऐसी बातें कहनेवाले सूतपुत्र संजयसे दुःखातुर राजा धृतराष्ट्रने लंबी साँस खींचकर इस प्रकार कहा
tam evaṁ-vādinaṁ rājā sūtaputraṁ kṛtāñjalim | sudīrgham atha niḥśvasya duḥkhārta idam abravīt ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Mendengar Sañjaya—anak kepada sais kereta perang—berkata demikian, dan melihatnya dengan tangan terlipat, Raja Dhṛtarāṣṭra yang diliputi dukacita menarik nafas panjang, lalu bertutur kata seperti berikut.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of leadership and attachment: Dhritarashtra’s deep sigh and grief signal an inner reckoning with the consequences of partiality and the unfolding destruction of war.
Vaishampayana narrates that after Sanjaya speaks respectfully with folded hands, Dhritarashtra—stricken with sorrow—takes a long, heavy breath and begins to respond, setting up the king’s next speech.