Shloka 2
Chapter 6: Dāruka’s Report; Arjuna Witnesses Dvārakā’s Desolation (दारुकवृत्तान्तः—अर्जुनस्य द्वारकादर्शनम्)
वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! मामाके महलमें पहुँचकर कुरुश्रेष्ठ अर्जुनने देखा कि वीर महात्मा वसुदेवजी पुत्रशोकसे दुखी होकर पृथ्वीपर पड़े हुए हैं ।। तस्याश्रुपरिपूर्णाक्षो व्यूढोरस्को महाभुज: । आर्तस्यार्ततर: पार्थ: पादौ जग्राह भारत,भरतनन्दन! चौड़ी छाती और विशाल भुजावाले कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुन अपने शोकाकुल मामाकी वह दशा देखकर अत्यन्त संतप्त हो उठे। उनके नेत्रोंमें आँसू भर आये और उन्होंने मामाके दोनों पैर पकड़ लिये
Vaiśampāyana uvāca—Janamejaya! māmaka-mahale prāpya kuruśreṣṭho 'rjuno dadarśa vīraṁ mahātmānaṁ Vasudevaṁ putra-śoka-duḥkhitaṁ pṛthivyāṁ patitam. Tasya aśru-paripūrṇākṣo vyūḍhorasko mahābhujaḥ; ārtasyārtataraḥ Pārthaḥ pādau jagrāha, Bhārata.
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Ó Janamejaya, quando Arjuna, o mais eminente entre os Kurus, chegou ao palácio de seus parentes maternos, viu o heroico e magnânimo Vasudeva deitado no chão, dominado pela dor por seus filhos. Ao vê-lo, Arjuna—de peito largo e braços poderosos—afligiu-se ainda mais do que o próprio aflito; seus olhos se encheram de lágrimas, e ele tomou os pés de Vasudeva, movido por reverência e compaixão.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic compassion and reverence: even the mightiest warrior responds to another’s suffering with humility (taking the feet) and shared sorrow, showing that strength is completed by empathy and respect for elders and kin.
After reaching the palace of his maternal kinsmen, Arjuna finds Vasudeva collapsed on the ground, devastated by the loss of his sons. Arjuna, shaken and tearful, approaches and clasps Vasudeva’s feet in a gesture of reverence and consoling solidarity.