Shloka 46
Kuntī’s Prayers and the Neutralization of the Brahmāstra
Uttarā Protected; Yudhiṣṭhira’s Grief Begins
व्यासाद्यैरीश्वरेहाज्ञै: कृष्णेनाद्भुतकर्मणा । प्रबोधितोऽपीतिहासैर्नाबुध्यत शुचार्पित: ॥ ४६ ॥
vyāsādyair īśvarehājñaiḥ kṛṣṇenādbhuta-karmaṇā prabodhito ’pītihāsair nābudhyata śucārpitaḥ
व्यास आदि महर्षులు, అద్భుత కార్యాలు చేసే శ్రీకృష్ణుడు స్వయంగా చరిత్రలను వివరించి చెప్పినప్పటికీ, శోకంలో మునిగి ఉన్న ధర్మరాజుకు ఊరట కలగలేదు.
The pious King Yudhiṣṭhira was mortified because of the mass massacre of human beings in the Battle of Kurukṣetra, especially on his account. Duryodhana was there on the throne, and he was doing well in his administration, and in one sense there was no need of fighting. But on the principle of justice Yudhiṣṭhira was to replace him. The whole clique of politics centered around this point, and all the kings and residents of the whole world became involved in this fight between the rival brothers. Lord Kṛṣṇa was also there on the side of King Yudhiṣṭhira. It is said in the Mahābhārata, Ādi-parva (2.25) that 640,000,000 men were killed in the eighteen days of the Battle of Kurukṣetra, and some hundreds of thousands were missing. Practically this was the greatest battle in the world within five thousand years.
FAQs
This verse explains that even profound instruction from realized teachers and sacred histories may not awaken a person if the heart is seized by grief—implying the need for inner receptivity and devotional healing.
Because he was śucārpitaḥ—absorbed in sorrow—so the teachings, though given through itihāsa and by great authorities, did not fully enter his heart.
When overwhelmed by loss or anxiety, combine study of spiritual wisdom with steady devotional practices (hearing, chanting, prayer) so the mind becomes calm enough to truly assimilate guidance.