11.013
Core and Pancharatra: Sage Vyasa intervenes, understanding Gandhari's anger and her wish to curse the Pandavas.
Vaiśampāyana said:
With Dhritarashtra's permission, all the foremost of the Kurus, the brothers along with Keshava, then approached Gandhari.
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.
The sage, the son of Satyavatī, had already become aware beforehand of her evil intention towards the Pāṇḍavas.
The great sage Manojava, after bathing in the pure, fragrant waters of the Gaṅgā, approached that place.
He, seeing with a divine eye and a mind free from arrogance, there understood the condition of all living beings.
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.
O Gāndhārī, do not be angry with the Pāṇḍava; find peace. Restrain your passion and listen to these words of mine.
O mother, for eighteen days, as your son desires victory and fights with enemies, wish welfare for me.
Thus, whenever you were entreated by the one seeking victory, O Gandhari, you have always said: "Where there is righteousness, there is victory."
O Gandhari, I do not recall your words ever being false in the past; you have always spoken with sincerity.
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.'
Gandhari said:
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.
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.
This destruction of the Kuru dynasty has occurred due to the offence of Duryodhana, Śakuni the son of Subala, Karna, and Duḥśāsana.
Neither Bībhatsu (Arjuna), nor Pārtha (Arjuna), nor Vṛkodara (Bhīma), nor Nakula, nor Sahadeva, nor ever Yudhiṣṭhira commit any offense.
As the Kauravas fight and cut each other down, being slain together and by others, there is nothing unpleasant to me in that.
But the great-minded Bhima, having summoned Duryodhana to mace-combat while Vāsudeva was watching, performed that deed.
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.
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?
