Shloka 27
कर्णस्य सेनापत्यं, माकरव्यूहः, पाण्डवानामर्धचन्द्रव्यूहः
Karna’s Command; Mākara Formation; Pandava Crescent Counter-Array
व्याकुलं मे मनस्तात श्रुत्वा सुमहदप्रियम् । मनो मुहति चाड़ानि न च शकक््नोमि धारितुम्
vyākulaṃ me manas tāta śrutvā sumahad apriyam | mano muhati cāḍāni na ca śaknomi dhāritum ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai anakku, fikiranku menjadi gundah-gulana setelah mendengar khabar yang amat besar, amat pedih, dan amat tidak menyenangkan ini. Lintasanku berpusing dan terhuyung-hayang, dan aku tidak mampu meneguhkan atau menahan ketenanganku.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and psychological weight of hearing grievous news: even the wise narrator admits mental agitation, implying that steadiness (dhairya) is a virtue that can be tested by the harsh realities of war and loss.
In the frame narration, Vaiśampāyana reacts to hearing extremely distressing developments in the war account. He confesses that his mind wavers and he struggles to maintain composure before continuing the narration.