Shloka 5
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Remorse and Vyāsa’s Teaching on Impermanence (Śoka-nivāraṇa)
यदा होन॑ विघूर्णन्तमपश्यं पार्थसायकै: । कम्पमानं यथा वचजे: प्रेक्ष्ष्माणं शिखण्डिना,जब मैंने देखा कि अर्जुनके वज्रोपम बाणोंसे आहत हो बूढ़े सिंहके समान मेरे उन्नतकाय पुरुषसिंह पितामह कम्पित हो रहे हैं और उन्हें चक्कर-सा आने लगा है, शिखण्डी उनकी ओर देख रहा है और उनका सारा शरीर बाणोंसे खचाखच भर गया है तो यह सब देखकर मेरे मनमें बड़ी व्यथा हुई
yadā ha enaṁ vighūrṇantam apaśyaṁ pārthasāyakaiḥ | kampamānaṁ yathā vṛddhasiṁhaḥ prekṣamāṇaṁ śikhaṇḍinā ||
Yudhiṣṭhira nói: “Khi ta thấy ngài loạng choạng—bị tên của Arjuna bắn trúng—run rẩy như sư tử già; trong lúc Śikhaṇḍin đứng đối diện, và toàn thân ngài ken đặc những mũi tên, thì một nỗi đau sâu thẳm dâng lên trong lòng ta trước cảnh ấy.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of righteous war: even when action aligns with duty, witnessing the suffering of elders and heroes can produce profound remorse. Dharma in conflict is not emotionally neutral; moral responsibility includes acknowledging grief and the human cost of victory.
Yudhiṣṭhira describes seeing Bhīṣma stagger and tremble after being struck by Arjuna’s arrows, with Śikhaṇḍin positioned before him. Bhīṣma’s body is densely pierced with shafts, and the sight fills Yudhiṣṭhira with intense anguish.