Shloka 2
The Murder of Satrājit and the Recovery of the Syamantaka Jewel
भीष्मं कृपं सविदुरं गान्धारीं द्रोणमेव च । तुल्यदु:खौ च सङ्गम्य हा कष्टमिति होचतु: ॥ २ ॥
bhīṣmaṁ kṛpaṁ sa viduraṁ gāndhārīṁ droṇam eva ca tulya-duḥkhau ca saṅgamya hā kaṣṭam iti hocatuḥ
ఆ ఇద్దరు ప్రభువులు భీష్ముడు, కృపుడు, విదురుడు, గాంధారి మరియు ద్రోణులను కలిశారు. వారి వలెనే దుఃఖాన్ని ప్రదర్శిస్తూ, 'అయ్యో! ఇది ఎంత బాధాకరమైనది!' అని అన్నారు.
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī points out that those who were involved in the assassination attempt were of course not at all sorry to hear of the Pāṇḍavas’ death. The persons specifically mentioned here, however — Bhīṣma, Kṛpa, Vidura, Gāndhārī and Droṇa — were actually unhappy to hear of the supposed tragedy.
FAQs
In this verse, “hā kaṣṭam” expresses intense lamentation—“Alas, how grievous!”—spoken by those assembled who are overwhelmed by sorrow.
Śukadeva describes respected Kuru elders and relatives assembling in shared grief; their mention emphasizes the gravity of the situation and the widespread sorrow among the dynasty’s senior figures.
It highlights that even great and wise elders experience grief; recognizing sorrow as part of life can inspire humility, mutual support in difficult times, and a turn toward spiritual steadiness.