Shloka 1
Vāg-yuddha and Nimitta-darśana before the Gadāyuddha
Verbal Duel and Omens
/ ऑपनआक्रात बछ। आर: 2 पञ्चपज्चाशत्तमो< ध्याय: बलरामजीकी सलाहसे सबका कुरुक्षेत्रके समन््तपंचक तीर्थमें जाना और वहाँ हे तथा दुर्योधनमें गदायुद्धकी या वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं तदभवद् युद्ध तुमुलं जनमेजय । यत्र दुःखान्वितो राजा धृतराष्ट्रोडब्रवीदिदम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca | evaṃ tad abhavad yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ janamejaya | yatra duḥkhānvitō rājā dhṛtarāṣṭro 'bravīd idam ||
Wika ni Vaiśampāyana: “O Janamejaya, ganyan naganap ang magulong labanan; at si Haring Dhṛtarāṣṭra, na nilamon ng matinding dalamhati, ay nagsalita ng mga salitang ito.” Ipinapakita ng taludtod na ang digmaan ay hindi palabas lamang, kundi isang sakunang moral na ang unang bunga ay pighati, na nagtutulak sa bulag na hari na magtanong sa naganap.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical aftermath of war: beyond victory or defeat, the immediate reality is sorrow and moral reckoning. Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s grief signals the cost of adharma-driven choices and sets up reflective questioning rather than triumphal narration.
Vaiśampāyana continues his narration to Janamejaya, stating that a fierce, chaotic battle has occurred. In response to what he hears (and the implied devastation), Dhṛtarāṣṭra—stricken with grief—begins to speak, introducing the next segment of dialogue.