Shloka 7
धृतराष्ट्रस्य उपालम्भः तथा पाण्डव-समाश्वासनम् | Dhṛtarāṣṭra Reproved and the Pāṇḍavas Consoled
वहाँ पाण्डवोंके प्रिय और अप्रिय जनोंके लिये हाथ उठाकर आर्तस्वरसे रोती और करुण क्रन्दन करती हुई सहस्रों महिलाओंने राजा युधिष्ठिरको चारों ओरसे घेर लिया ।। क्व नु धर्मज्ञता राज्ञ: क््व नु साद्यानृशंसता । यच्चावधीत् ३ गुरुपुत्रानू सखीनपि,वे बोलीं--“अहो! वह धर्मज्ञता और दयालुता कहाँ चली गयी कि इन्होंने ताऊ, चाचा, भाई, गुरुपुत्रों और मित्रोंका भी वध कर डाला
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tatra pāṇḍavānāṁ priya-apriya-janān prati bāhūn utthāpya ārta-svarena rudatyaḥ karuṇaṁ krandantyaś ca sahasraśo yoṣitaḥ rājānaṁ yudhiṣṭhiram paritaḥ paryavārayanta || kva nu dharmajñatā rājñaḥ? kva nu sādhv-anṛśaṁsatā? yac cāvadhīt guruputrān sakhīn api || tā ūcuḥ—aho! sā dharmajñatā sā ca dayālūtā kva gatā, yena eṣaḥ pitṛvyaṁ mātulaṁ bhrātṝn guruputrān sakhīn api jaghāna ||
Disse Vaiśampāyana: Ali, milhares de mulheres—parentes dos Pāṇḍavas, tanto queridas quanto afastadas—ergueram as mãos e, chorando com vozes de angústia e pranteando de modo pungente, cercaram o rei Yudhiṣṭhira por todos os lados. Lamentavam: “Onde está agora a célebre ciência do dharma do rei? Onde está sua afamada brandura e compaixão, se ele fez com que fossem mortos anciãos e parentes—tios, irmãos, os filhos dos mestres e até amigos?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical shock of war’s aftermath: even a ruler celebrated for dharma is publicly confronted with the human cost—dead elders, teachers’ sons, and friends—forcing reflection on how righteous aims can still yield grievous suffering and moral anguish.
In the Strī Parva’s mourning scenes, thousands of grieving women surround King Yudhiṣṭhira, crying out and accusing him—through rhetorical questions—of having lost the compassion and dharma for which he was known, since so many close relations and respected persons have been slain.