Shloka 15
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Bereavement and the Averted Assault on Bhīma (Āyasī Pratimā Episode)
ते हतानात्मजान श्रुत्वाप्रमत्ता: पुरुषर्षभा: । निरीक्षन्तः पद शूरा: क्षिप्रमेव यशस्विनि
te hatān ātmajān śrutvā pramattāḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ | nirīkṣantaḥ padaśūrāḥ kṣipram eva yaśasvini ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Mendengar bahawa anak-anak mereka sendiri telah dibunuh, para lelaki unggul itu—bagaikan lembu jantan perkasa—yang dahulu alpa dalam keangkuhan kuasa, segera menjadi waspada. Meninjau ke segenap arah, para wira yang pantas bertindak itu bergerak serta-merta, wahai wanita mulia, didorong oleh dukacita dan kejutan moral yang keras akibat akibat perang.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the moral recoil that follows violence: prideful heedlessness collapses when one confronts the personal cost of war—especially the death of one’s own children—forcing sudden wakefulness and urgent action.
In the Strī Parva’s aftermath setting, news arrives that their sons have been killed. The leading men/warriors, previously inattentive or overconfident, become alert, look around, and move quickly—an immediate reaction shaped by shock and grief.