Shloka 4
अश्मसारमयं नूनं॑ हृदयं मम संजय । श्रुत्वा विनिहतं भीष्मं शतधा यजन्न दीर्यते,संजय! निश्चय ही मेरा हृदय लोहेका बना हुआ है; क्योंकि आज भीष्मजीके मारे जानेका समाचार सुनकर भी यह सैकड़ों टुकड़ोंमें विदीर्ण नहीं हो रहा है
aśmasāramayaṃ nūnaṃ hṛdayaṃ mama sañjaya | śrutvā vinihataṃ bhīṣmaṃ śatadhā yaj janna dīryate ||
ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର କହିଲେ—ସଞ୍ଜୟ, ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ମୋ ହୃଦୟ ପଥର ଓ ଲୋହାର; କାରଣ ଭୀଷ୍ମ ନିହତ ହେଲେ ବୋଲି ଶୁଣି ମଧ୍ୟ ଏହା ଶତଧା ଭାଙ୍ଗୁନାହିଁ। ଯେଉଁଠି ଶୋକରେ ଭାଙ୍ଗିପଡ଼ିବା ଉଚିତ, ସେଠି ଆସକ୍ତି ଓ ମୋହ ମୋତେ ଅଖଣ୍ଡ ରଖୁଛି।
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how attachment and delusion can harden the heart: even when confronted with a catastrophic loss (Bhīṣma’s fall), Dhṛtarāṣṭra recognizes a moral-emotional numbness in himself. It implicitly critiques inner blindness—when one’s conscience and compassion should break, they remain rigid due to long-cultivated partiality and adharma.
Sañjaya has reported to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma has been felled in battle. Dhṛtarāṣṭra reacts with astonished self-reproach, saying his heart must be stone-like because it does not shatter upon hearing of Bhīṣma’s downfall.