Shloka 8
ऋषिसमागमः — युधिष्ठिरस्य शोकवर्णनम्
Sage Assembly and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Articulation of Grief
पुण्ये भागीरथीतीरे शोकव्याकुलचेतसम् । आश्वासयन्तो राजानं विप्रा: शतसहस्रश:,उस समयके अनुरूप पूजा स्वीकार करके वे सैकड़ों हजारों ब्रह्मर्षि भागीरथीके पावन तटपर शोकसे व्याकुलचित्त हुए राजा युधिष्ठिरकको सब ओरसे घेरकर आश्वासन देते हुए यथोचितरूपसे उनके पास बैठे रहे
puṇye bhāgīrathītīre śokavyākulacetasam | āśvāsayanto rājānaṁ viprāḥ śatasahasraśaḥ ||
Wika ni Vaiśampāyana: Sa banal na pampang ng Bhāgīrathī, daan-daang libong rishi-Brahmana ang pumaligid kay Haring Yudhiṣṭhira—na ang isip ay nilamon ng dalamhati—at upang aliwin siya, nanatili silang nakaupo sa tabi niya ayon sa nararapat sa panahon at kalagayan. Itinatanghal ng tagpong ito ang krisis na moral matapos ang digmaan: ang lungkot ng hari ay sinagot hindi ng hungkag na papuri, kundi ng matatag na presensyang dharmiko ng mga nakatatandang marurunong, na gumagabay sa kanya pabalik sa matuwid na pamamahala at sa panloob na kapanatagan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Grief after violence, even when one has acted under duty, must be met through dharmic counsel and steadying companionship. The presence of sages signifies that ethical recovery and rightful rule arise from listening to wisdom, honoring context (deśa-kāla), and transforming sorrow into responsible action.
After the war, Yudhiṣṭhira is mentally shaken by sorrow. On the sacred bank of the Bhāgīrathī, vast numbers of brāhmaṇa sages gather around him, console him, and sit near him appropriately, setting the stage for the teachings of Śānti Parva on peace, duty, and governance.