11.013
Core and Pancharatra: Sage Vyasa intervenes, understanding Gandhari's anger and her wish to curse the Pandavas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
धृतराष्ट्राभ्यनुज्ञातास्ततस्ते कुरुपुङ्गवाः। अभ्ययुर्भ्रातरः सर्वे गान्धारीं सहकेशवाः ॥११-१३-१॥
With Dhritarashtra's permission, all the foremost of the Kurus, the brothers along with Keshava, then approached Gandhari.
ततो ज्ञात्वा हतामित्रं धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम्। गान्धारी पुत्रशोकार्ता शप्तुमैच्छदनिन्दिता ॥११-१३-२॥
Then, when Gandhari, the blameless one, learned that Yudhishthira, the king of dharma, whose enemies were slain, she, afflicted by grief for her sons, wished to utter a curse.
तस्याः पापमभिप्रायं विदित्वा पाण्डवान्प्रति। ऋषिः सत्यवतीपुत्रः प्रागेव समबुध्यत ॥११-१३-३॥
The sage, the son of Satyavatī, had already become aware beforehand of her evil intention towards the Pāṇḍavas.
स गङ्गायामुपस्पृश्य पुण्यगन्धं पयः शुचि। तं देशमुपसम्पेदे परमर्षिर्मनोजवः ॥११-१३-४॥
The great sage Manojava, after bathing in the pure, fragrant waters of the Gaṅgā, approached that place.
दिव्येन चक्षुषा पश्यन्मनसानुद्धतेन च। सर्वप्राणभृतां भावं स तत्र समबुध्यत ॥११-१३-५॥
He, seeing with a divine eye and a mind free from arrogance, there understood the condition of all living beings.
स स्नुषामब्रवीत्काले कल्यवादी महातपाः। शापकालमवाक्षिप्य शमकालमुदीरयन् ॥११-१३-६॥
He, the great ascetic who spoke auspicious words, addressed his daughters-in-law at the right moment, setting aside the time for cursing and declaring the time for peace.
न कोपः पाण्डवे कार्यो गान्धारि शममाप्नुहि। रजो निगृह्यतामेतच्छृणु चेदं वचो मम ॥११-१३-७॥
O Gāndhārī, do not be angry with the Pāṇḍava; find peace. Restrain your passion and listen to these words of mine.
उक्तास्यष्टादशाहानि पुत्रेण जयमिच्छता। शिवमाशास्स्व मे मातर्युध्यमानस्य शत्रुभिः ॥११-१३-८॥
O mother, for eighteen days, as your son desires victory and fights with enemies, wish welfare for me.
सा तथा याच्यमाना त्वं काले काले जयैषिणा। उक्तवत्यसि गान्धारि यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः ॥११-१३-९॥
Thus, whenever you were entreated by the one seeking victory, O Gandhari, you have always said: "Where there is righteousness, there is victory."
न चाप्यतीतां गान्धारि वाचं ते वितथामहम्। स्मरामि भाषमाणायास्तथा प्रणिहिता ह्यसि ॥११-१३-१०॥
O Gandhari, I do not recall your words ever being false in the past; you have always spoken with sincerity.
सा त्वं धर्मं परिस्मृत्य वाचा चोक्त्वा मनस्विनि। कोपं संयच्छ गान्धारि मैवं भूः सत्यवादिनि ॥११-१३-११॥
She said: 'You, O Gandhari, having remembered your duty and spoken thus, O strong-minded and truthful one, restrain your anger; do not be so.'
गान्धार्युवाच॥
Gandhari said:
भगवन्नाभ्यसूयामि नैतानिच्छामि नश्यतः। पुत्रशोकेन तु बलान्मनो विह्वलतीव मे ॥११-१३-१२॥
O Lord, I do not bear ill will, nor do I wish these to perish; but my mind is overwhelmed by the force of grief for my son.
यथैव कुन्त्या कौन्तेया रक्षितव्यास्तथा मया। यथैव धृतराष्ट्रेण रक्षितव्यास्तथा मया ॥११-१३-१३॥
Just as the sons of Kuntī are to be protected by Kuntī, so also by me; just as they are to be protected by Dhṛtarāṣṭra, so also by me.
दुर्योधनापराधेन शकुनेः सौबलस्य च। कर्णदुःशासनाभ्यां च वृत्तोऽयं कुरुसङ्क्षयः ॥११-१३-१४॥
This destruction of the Kuru dynasty has occurred due to the offence of Duryodhana, Śakuni the son of Subala, Karna, and Duḥśāsana.
नापराध्यति बीभत्सुर्न च पार्थो वृकोदरः। नकुलः सहदेवो वा नैव जातु युधिष्ठिरः ॥११-१३-१५॥
Neither Bībhatsu (Arjuna), nor Pārtha (Arjuna), nor Vṛkodara (Bhīma), nor Nakula, nor Sahadeva, nor ever Yudhiṣṭhira commit any offense.
युध्यमाना हि कौरव्याः कृन्तमानाः परस्परम्। निहताः सहिताश्चान्यैस्तत्र नास्त्यप्रियं मम ॥११-१३-१६॥
As the Kauravas fight and cut each other down, being slain together and by others, there is nothing unpleasant to me in that.
यत्तु कर्माकरोद्भीमो वासुदेवस्य पश्यतः। दुर्योधनं समाहूय गदायुद्धे महामनाः ॥११-१३-१७॥
But the great-minded Bhima, having summoned Duryodhana to mace-combat while Vāsudeva was watching, performed that deed.
शिक्षयाभ्यधिकं ज्ञात्वा चरन्तं बहुधा रणे। अधो नाभ्यां प्रहृतवांस्तन्मे कोपमवर्धयत् ॥११-१३-१८॥
Knowing him to be superior in skill and moving in many ways in battle, when he struck below at the navel, that act increased my anger.
कथं नु धर्मं धर्मज्ञैः समुद्दिष्टं महात्मभिः। त्यजेयुराहवे शूराः प्राणहेतोः कथञ्चन ॥११-१३-१९॥
How could the brave ever abandon, in battle and for the sake of their own lives, the duty declared by the wise and the great souls?
