08.003
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaishampayana said:
एतच्छ्रुत्वा महाराज धृतराष्ट्रोऽम्बिकासुतः। शोकस्यान्तमपश्यन्वै हतं मत्वा सुयोधनम् ॥ विह्वलः पतितो भूमौ नष्टचेता इव द्विपः ॥८-३-१॥
Upon hearing this, King Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, overwhelmed with grief and thinking that Suyodhana was killed, fell to the ground unconscious, like a stricken elephant.
तस्मिन्निपतिते भूमौ विह्वले राजसत्तमे। आर्तनादो महानासीत्स्त्रीणां भरतसत्तम ॥८-३-२॥
When the best of kings fell to the ground in distress, there arose a great cry from the women, O best of the Bharatas.
स शब्दः पृथिवीं सर्वां पूरयामास सर्वशः। शोकार्णवे महाघोरे निमग्ना भरतस्त्रियः ॥८-३-३॥
The sound reverberated throughout the entire earth, and the women of Bharata were engulfed in a profound and terrible ocean of grief.
राजानं च समासाद्य गान्धारी भरतर्षभ। निःसञ्ज्ञा पतिता भूमौ सर्वाण्यन्तःपुराणि च ॥८-३-४॥
Gandhari, upon approaching the king, fell unconscious to the ground, and all the women of the inner chambers followed suit, O best of the Bharatas.
ततस्ताः सञ्जयो राजन्समाश्वासयदातुराः। मुह्यमानाः सुबहुशो मुञ्चन्त्यो वारि नेत्रजम् ॥८-३-५॥
Then Sanjaya consoled the distressed ones, who were bewildered and shedding tears profusely from their eyes, O King.
समाश्वस्ताः स्त्रियस्तास्तु वेपमाना मुहुर्मुहुः। कदल्य इव वातेन धूयमानाः समन्ततः ॥८-३-६॥
The women, though reassured, were trembling repeatedly, like banana trees swaying in the wind from all sides.
राजानं विदुरश्चापि प्रज्ञाचक्षुषमीश्वरम्। आश्वासयामास तदा सिञ्चंस्तोयेन कौरवम् ॥८-३-७॥
Vidura, recognizing the wisdom and authority of the king, consoled him by sprinkling water, a gesture of comfort and respect, upon the Kaurava.
स लब्ध्वा शनकैः सञ्ज्ञां ताश्च दृष्ट्वा स्त्रियो नृप। उन्मत्त इव राजा स स्थितस्तूष्णीं विशां पते ॥८-३-८॥
Having slowly regained his senses and seeing the women, the king stood silently, appearing as if mad, O lord of the people.
ततो ध्यात्वा चिरं कालं निःश्वसंश्च पुनः पुनः। स्वान्पुत्रान्गर्हयामास बहु मेने च पाण्डवान् ॥८-३-९॥
After meditating for a long time and repeatedly sighing, he criticized his own sons and held the Pandavas in high regard.
गर्हयित्वात्मनो बुद्धिं शकुनेः सौबलस्य च। ध्यात्वा च सुचिरं कालं वेपमानो मुहुर्मुहुः ॥८-३-१०॥
He censured his own intelligence and that of Śakuni, the son of Subala, and after contemplating for a long time, he trembled repeatedly.
संस्तभ्य च मनो भूयो राजा धैर्यसमन्वितः। पुनर्गावल्गणिं सूतं पर्यपृच्छत सञ्जयम् ॥८-३-११॥
The king, having once more steadied his mind and filled with patience, questioned his charioteer, Gāvalgaṇi, who is Sañjaya.
यत्त्वया कथितं वाक्यं श्रुतं सञ्जय तन्मया। कच्चिद्दुर्योधनः सूत न गतो वै यमक्षयम् ॥ ब्रूहि सञ्जय तत्त्वेन पुनरुक्तां कथामिमाम् ॥८-३-१२॥
Sanjaya, the words you spoke were heard by me. Has Duryodhana, the charioteer, not gone to the abode of Yama? Please tell me the truth about this repeated story, Sanjaya.
एवमुक्तोऽब्रवीत्सूतो राजानं जनमेजय। हतो वैकर्तनो राजन्सह पुत्रैर्महारथैः ॥ भ्रातृभिश्च महेष्वासैः सूतपुत्रैस्तनुत्यजैः ॥८-३-१३॥
Upon hearing this, the charioteer informed King Janamejaya that Karna, along with his sons and the great warriors, had been slain by the brothers, who were great archers, the sons of the charioteer, and those who had sacrificed their lives.
दुःशासनश्च निहतः पाण्डवेन यशस्विना। पीतं च रुधिरं कोपाद्भीमसेनेन संयुगे ॥८-३-१४॥
Duhshasana was killed by the illustrious Pandava, and in his wrath, Bhimasena drank his blood during the battle.
