Shloka 4
Abhimanyu’s Śrāddha; Vyāsa’s Assurance of the Unborn Heir (अभिमन्योः श्राद्धं तथा गर्भरक्षणोपदेशः)
सुभद्रा तु तमुत्क्रान्तमात्मजस्य वर्ध रणे । आचक्ष्व कृष्ण सौभद्रवधमित्यपतद् भुवि
subhadrā tu tam utkrāntam ātmajasya vṛddha-raṇe | ācakṣva kṛṣṇa saubhadra-vadham iti apatad bhuvi ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Ngunit si Subhadrā, nang mapansing hindi pa nababanggit ang balita ng pagkamatay ng kanyang anak, ay nagpaalala kay Kṛṣṇa: “Kapatid, isalaysay mo rin ang pagpaslang kay Saubhadra (Abhimanyu).” Pagkasabi nito, siya’y nawalan ng malay at bumagsak sa lupa—ang dalamhati’y sumiklab lampas sa pagpipigil ng pananalita sa gitna ng paghilom matapos ang digmaan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of war’s consequences: even when victory or duty is discussed, the unspoken truth of personal loss demands acknowledgment. Dharma is not only action in battle but also truthful remembrance and compassionate speech toward the bereaved.
Subhadrā realizes that the account being narrated has not explicitly mentioned her son Abhimanyu’s death. She urges Kṛṣṇa to speak of Saubhadra’s slaying as well, and immediately collapses in a faint from overwhelming grief.