Shloka 1
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Remorse and Vyāsa’s Teaching on Impermanence (Śoka-nivāraṇa)
ऑपन--र< बछ। ] अति्ऑफाएड सप्तविशो<्ध्याय: युधिष्ठिरको शोकवश शरीर त्याग देनेके लिये उद्यत देख व्यासजीका उन्हें उससे निवारण करके समझाना युधिछिर उवाच अभिमन्यौ हते बाले द्रौपद्यास्तनयेषु च । धृष्टय्युम्ने विराटे च द्रुपदे च महीपतौ
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | abhimanyau hate bāle draupadyās tanayeṣu ca | dhṛṣṭadyumne virāṭe ca drupade ca mahīpatau ||
Wika ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “O pinakadakilang pantas, sa digmaang ito napatay ang batang si Abhimanyu, gayundin ang mga anak ni Draupadī; bumagsak din sina Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Virāṭa, at Haring Drupada. Sa pagtanaw ko sa mga kamatayang ito at sa pagkapuksa ng mga kamag-anak, nilalamon ako ng dalamhati—iniisip kong ako’y pumatay sa sarili kong angkan, sakim sa paghahari, at sanhi ng pagkawasak ng aking lahi.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse initiates Yudhiṣṭhira’s moral crisis: even a war fought under claims of dharma leaves profound ethical residue—grief, guilt, and responsibility for the destruction of kin. It sets the stage for instruction on dharma, kingship, and inner reconciliation.
After the war, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses the sage (Vyāsa in the chapter’s frame), listing the fallen—Abhimanyu, Draupadī’s sons, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Virāṭa, and Drupada—and expresses overwhelming sorrow and self-reproach.