Shloka 3
Kuntī’s Prayers and the Neutralization of the Brahmāstra
Uttarā Protected; Yudhiṣṭhira’s Grief Begins
तत्रासीनं कुरुपतिं धृतराष्ट्रं सहानुजम् । गान्धारीं पुत्रशोकार्तां पृथां कृष्णां च माधव: ॥ ३ ॥
tatrāsīnaṁ kuru-patiṁ dhṛtarāṣṭraṁ sahānujam gāndhārīṁ putra-śokārtāṁ pṛthāṁ kṛṣṇāṁ ca mādhavaḥ
అక్కడ కురుపతి మహారాజు యుధిష్ఠిరుడు తన అనుజులతో కూర్చుండెను; ధృతరాష్ట్రుడు, పుత్రశోకార్త గాంధారి, కుంతి, ద్రౌపది—అందరూ శోకాకులులై యుండిరి; మాధవ శ్రీకృష్ణుడును అక్కడే ఉన్నాడు।
The Battle of Kurukṣetra was fought between family members, and thus all affected persons were also family members like Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira and brothers, Kuntī, Draupadī, Subhadrā, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Gāndhārī and her daughters-in-law, etc. All the principal dead bodies were in some way or other related with each other, and therefore the family grief was combined. Lord Kṛṣṇa was also one of them as a cousin of the Pāṇḍavas and nephew of Kuntī, as well as brother of Subhadrā, etc. The Lord, therefore, was equally sympathetic toward all of them, and therefore he began to pacify them befittingly.
FAQs
This verse mentions Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Mādhava), Dhṛtarāṣṭra with his younger brother Vidura, Gāndhārī grieving for her sons, and Pṛthā (Kuntī) and Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī).
Because her sons (the Kauravas) were slain in the Kurukṣetra war, and the narrative is describing the post-war atmosphere in Hastināpura as Kṛṣṇa visits the elders and queens.
Even in times of loss and conflict, dharmic conduct includes acknowledging others’ suffering, approaching elders respectfully, and seeking shelter in the Lord’s guidance rather than resentment.