Shloka 396
शल्यपर्वणि प्रथमाध्यायः — Karṇa-vadha-anantaraṃ Śalya-niyogaḥ, Saṃjayasya Dhṛtarāṣṭra-nivedanam
निपपात स राजेन्द्रो गतसत्त्वो महीतले । वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! यह क्रूर वचन सुनकर राजाधिराज जनेश्वर धृतराष्ट्र प्राणहीन-से होकर पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़े
nipapāta sa rājendro gatasattvo mahītale |
Vaiśampāyana nói: Hỡi Janamejaya, vừa nghe những lời cay nghiệt ấy, chúa tể của các quân vương, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, liền gục xuống đất như đã mất hết sinh lực—bị nỗi đau và cơn chấn động nhấn chìm.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how cruel or harsh speech can strike with the force of a weapon, triggering collapse in those already burdened by sorrow; it also underscores the human cost of adharma and war, where even kings are reduced to helpless grief.
Within Vaiśampāyana’s narration to King Janamejaya, Dhṛtarāṣṭra hears a cruel statement (from the surrounding context) and, unable to bear the shock and grief, falls to the ground as if lifeless.