तमुत्थाप्य ततो राजा परिष्वज्य च पीडितम् | मूर्थ््युपाच्राय चैवैनमिदं पुनरुवाच ह
tam utthāpya tato rājā pariṣvajya ca pīḍitam | mūrdhny upāghrāya caivainam idaṃ punar uvāca ha ||
Санджая сказал: Затем царь поднял его; обнял страдальца и, в жесте отцовской нежности, вдохнул запах его головы, после чего снова обратился к нему такими словами.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights a human and ethical tension: even in a war driven by ambition and adharma, natural compassion and familial attachment persist. Such tenderness can be virtuous as care, yet it can also signal partiality and emotional entanglement that cloud righteous judgment.
Sañjaya narrates that the king lifts up the distressed person, embraces him, and smells his head—an intimate, paternal gesture—before speaking again. It sets the emotional tone for the king’s next words and shows the gravity of the distress being discussed.