Shloka 1
Gāndhārī’s Grief, Vyāsa’s Pacification, and the Ethics of Retaliation (गान्धारी-शोकः शमोपदेशश्च)
ऑपनआक्राता बछ। अर: त्रयोदशो< ध्याय: श्रीकृष्णका धृतराष्ट्रको फटकारकर उनका क्रोध शान्त करना और धृतराष्ट्रका पाण्डवोंको हृदयसे लगाना वैशम्पायन उवाच तत एनमुपातिष्ठन् शौचार्थ परिचारका: । कृतशौचं पुनश्चैनं प्रोवाच मधुसूदन:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: tata enam upātiṣṭhan śaucārtha-paricārakāḥ | kṛta-śaucaṃ punaś cainaṃ provāca Madhusūdanaḥ ||
वैशम्पायन उवाच—तत एनमुपातिष्ठन् शौचार्थं परिचारकाः। कृतशौचं पुनश्चैनं प्रोवाच मधुसूदनः॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid collective tragedy, dharma requires inner cleansing and restraint: purification (śauca) prepares the mind for right counsel, and wise speech aims to pacify anger and reawaken compassion rather than intensify vengeance.
After the attendants help complete the king’s purification rites, Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Madhusūdana) speaks to him again—setting the stage for admonition and guidance meant to calm his agitation and move him toward reconciliation.