Shloka 2
अश्वत्थाम-शापः, परिक्षिद्भविष्यत्, मणि-न्यासः
Aśvatthāman’s Curse, Parikṣit’s Future, and the Mani’s Restitution
विराटस्य सुतां पूर्व स्नुषां गाण्डीवधन्चन: । उपप्लव्यगतां दृष्टवा व्रतवान् ब्राह्मणो5ब्रवीत्
virāṭasya sutāṃ pūrvaṃ snuṣāṃ gāṇḍīvadhanvanaḥ | upaplavya-gatāṃ dṛṣṭvā vratavān brāhmaṇo 'bravīt ||
முன்பு காந்தீவம் தாங்கிய அர்ஜுனனின் மருமகளான விராடனின் மகளை, உபப்லவ்யத்தில் இருப்பதைக் கண்ட விரதம் காத்த பிராமணன் கூறினான்.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma through social and moral identifiers: a woman is situated within networks of protection and responsibility (daughter of Virāṭa, daughter-in-law of Arjuna), while the speaker is marked as vratavān (disciplined, vow-keeping). In the war’s aftermath, ethical speech and action are expected to arise from restraint and duty, especially toward those needing protection.
The narrator introduces a scene at Upaplavya: Virāṭa’s daughter (Uttarā), earlier married into Arjuna’s line, is seen there. An unnamed brāhmaṇa characterized by vow-observance addresses her, setting up the ensuing dialogue or message within the Sauptika Parva’s post-night-raid context.