Shloka 56

ये होव धीरा ह्वीमन्‍त आर्या: करुणवेदिन:

ye ha vā dhīrā hrīmantā āryāḥ karuṇavedinaḥ | te hi prāyo yuddhe hanyante ’dhamā jīvanti mānavāḥ || janārdana! śatrūn hatvāpi teṣāṃ sadā manasi paścāttāpo bhavati ||

Те, кто стойки, скромны, благородны и сострадательны, — кажется, именно они чаще всего гибнут на войне, тогда как люди низкого нрава остаются в живых. О Джанардана, даже убив врагов, человек всё равно носит в сердце неизбывное раскаяние из‑за них.

येwho (those who)
ये:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
indeed
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
and/also (emphatic particle)
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
धीरा:steadfast, wise, brave
धीरा::
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootधीर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
ह्रीमत्modest, possessing shame
ह्रीमत्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootह्रीमत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
आर्या:noble, honorable
आर्या::
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootआर्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
करुणवेदिनःcompassionate (knowing compassion)
करुणवेदिनः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकरुणवेदिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

युधिछिर उवाच

Y
Yudhiṣṭhira
J
Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa)
E
enemies (śatravaḥ)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the moral paradox of war: the virtuous—steady, modest, noble, compassionate—often perish, while the ignoble survive; and even when killing is directed against enemies, ethical sensitivity produces lasting remorse.

Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Kṛṣṇa (Janārdana), lamenting the injustice and inner cost of warfare: good people are cut down, and the act of slaying foes leaves a persistent burden of regret in the mind.