Shloka 133
Gāndhārī’s Petition for a Vision of the Departed (गान्धार्याः प्रार्थना—दिव्यदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)
वृथाग्निना समायोगो यदभूत् पृथिवीपते: । भगवन! राजा धृतराष्ट्रके शरीरको जो व्यर्थ (लौकिक) अग्निका संयोग प्राप्त हुआ, यह दूसरी अत्यन्त कष्ट देनेवाली बात जान पड़ती है
vṛthāgninā samāyogo yad abhūt pṛthivīpateḥ | bhagavan, rājā dhṛtarāṣṭrasya śarīrako yo vyartha-laukikāgninā saṃyogaḥ prāptaḥ, eṣā dvitīyātyanta-kaṣṭa-dāyinī bātā jānāyate |
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “O kagalang-galang, na ang panginoon ng lupa—Haring Dhṛtarāṣṭra—ay napasailalim sa isang apoy na walang saysay, isang apoy na pangmundo lamang, ay wari ko’y ikalawang pangyayaring labis na nagpapahirap. Nakapipighati na ang isang nagtiis na ng napakarami ay magwawakas sa ganitong paraan, at lalo nitong pinabibigat ang dalamhating moral matapos ang pagguho ng isang angkan.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical pain caused when a life already burdened by consequences ends in a seemingly ‘vain’ or merely worldly manner. It underscores impermanence and the tragic residue of adharma: even after war and reconciliation, suffering can continue, urging humility, compassion, and detachment from outcomes.
Yudhiṣṭhira laments the report of King Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s end in the forest—his body meeting fire. Addressing a revered elder (contextually a sage/authority present in the episode), he calls this a ‘second’ intensely painful blow, adding to earlier griefs surrounding the Kuru family’s destruction.