Shloka 353
Subhadrā-vilāpaḥ — Subhadrā’s Lament for Abhimanyu
Droṇa-parva 55
सृञ्जयं नारदो<शभ्येत्य तन्निबोध युधिष्िर । युधिष्ठिर! दुःखसे पीड़ित हो अचेत होकर विलाप करते हुए राजा सूंजयके निकट आकर नारदजीने जो कुछ कहा था, वह सुनो
Sṛñjayaṃ Nārado 'bhyetya tan nibodha Yudhiṣṭhira | Yudhiṣṭhira! duḥkhena pīḍito 'ceto vilapan rājā Sṛñjayasyāntikaṃ gatvā Nāradaḥ yad uvāca tat śṛṇu ||
Vyāsa said: “Listen carefully, O Yudhiṣṭhira, to what Nārada said after approaching King Sṛñjaya. Overwhelmed by sorrow, your mind clouded, and lamenting without restraint, you should hear that counsel—spoken in the presence of the king—meant to steady the grief-stricken and recall them to dharma amid the devastations of war.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a didactic moment: when grief overwhelms and clouds discernment, one should listen to wise counsel. It signals a turn from uncontrolled lamentation toward dharmic reflection and steadiness, especially amid the moral injuries of war.
Vyāsa addresses Yudhiṣṭhira and introduces a report: Nārada approaches King Sṛñjaya and speaks to him. The context is intense sorrow and lamentation, and the narrative prepares the audience to hear Nārada’s consoling or instructive words.