Shloka 2
त॑ नृपं दीनमनसं निहतज्ञातिबान्धवम् | उपप्लुतमिवादित्यं सधूममिव पावकम्,जाति-भाइयोंके मारे जानेसे युधिष्ठिरका मन शोकसे दीन एवं व्याकुल हो रहा था। वे राहुग्रस्त सूर्य और धूमयुक्त अग्निके समान निस्तेज हो गये थे। विशेषतः उनका मन राज्यकी ओरसे खिन्न एवं विरक्त हो गया था। यह सब जानकर वृष्णिवंशभूषण श्रीकृष्णने कुन्तीकुमार धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिको आश्वासन देते हुए इस प्रकार कहना आरम्भ किया
taṁ nṛpaṁ dīna-manasaṁ nihata-jñāti-bāndhavam | upaplutam ivādityaṁ sa-dhūmam iva pāvakam ||
वैशम्पायन उवाच— स नृपः शोकदीनमनाः निहतज्ञातिबान्धवः। राहुग्रस्त इवादित्यः सधूम इव पावकः॥ विशेषतः स राज्येऽपि निर्विण्णो विरतोऽभवत्। तद् विदित्वा वृष्णिवंशभूषणः श्रीकृष्णः कुन्तीसुतं धर्मपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् आश्वासयन् वचनम आरभत॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and psychological cost of violence: even a righteous victor can be inwardly eclipsed by grief. It sets the stage for Kṛṣṇa’s reassurance—guidance meant to restore clarity, responsibility, and dharmic steadiness in rulership despite personal sorrow.
After the destruction of his kin, Yudhiṣṭhira becomes despondent and loses his luster, compared to an eclipsed sun and smoke-covered fire. Observing his aversion to kingship, Kṛṣṇa begins to address him with consoling counsel.