Shloka 373
Vyāsa’s Boon-Offer and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse in the Forest Assembly (आश्रमवासिक पर्व, अध्याय ३६)
यथा च नृपतिर्दग्धो देव्यौ ते चेति पाण्डव । पुरुषप्रवर पाण्डव! जिस प्रकार राजा धृतराष्ट्र तथा उन दोनों देवियोंका दाह हुआ है, यह सारा समाचार मैंने वहीं सुना था
yathā ca nṛpatir dagdho devyau te ceti pāṇḍava | puruṣapravara pāṇḍava! yathā rājā dhṛtarāṣṭra tathā ca te dve devyau dagdhāḥ, etat sarvaṃ samācāraṃ mayā tatraiva śrutam āsa |
Wika ni Nārada: “O Pāṇḍava, pinakadakila sa mga lalaki—kung paanong nasunog ang hari, gayundin ang dalawang maharlikang ginang—ang buong salaysay kung paano si Haring Dhṛtarāṣṭra at ang dalawang reyna ay nagwakas sa apoy, narinig ko roon mismo. Ipinababatid ko ito bilang mapagkakatiwalaang patotoo, upang tanggapin mo ang pangyayari nang may katatagan at malinaw na paghatol, at huwag matinag ng dalamhati.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores impermanence and the need for steadiness: even great kings and revered elders meet inevitable ends. Nārada’s emphasis on having heard the report directly also models responsible transmission of truth—grief should be met with discernment grounded in reliable knowledge.
Nārada addresses a Pāṇḍava (primarily Yudhiṣṭhira) and reports the news that King Dhṛtarāṣṭra and the two queens were consumed by fire. He states that he heard the full account on the spot, presenting himself as a trustworthy messenger of the event.